SHINING A BRIGHT LIGHT

The torture report will be released tomorrow. Here's who is worried

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/08/cia-offers-new-security-checks-for-torture-report-spies.html
U.S. spies are worried the long-awaited Senate review will paint targets on their backs. 

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/12/white-house-preps-for-torture-report-release.html
The administration is beefing up security overseas and preparing for possible riots, while the CIA has released its own secret memo warning about possible violent outcomes. . . .

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/why-torture-report-could-have-bigger-impact-overseas-home-n263786
Why the Torture Report Could Have a Bigger Impact Overseas Than at Home

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/09/opinion/pardon-bush-and-those-who-tortured.html
I have come to think that President Obama should issue pardons, after all — because it may be the only way to establish, once and for all, that torture is illegal. . . .

More: http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/12/american-lives-will-be-saved-not-lost-if-we-release-senate-torture-report

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-torture-genie.html 

What you WON'T see in the torture report

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-froomkin/12-things-to-keep-in-mind_b_6260932.html

More: https://www.emptywheel.net/2014/12/08/some-torture-facts/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=some-torture-facts

Obamacare is still working

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/obamacare-mlr-health-spending-slow
A key provision of the Affordable Care Act that was designed to keep insurers from overspending on administrative costs or else be forced to rebate premiums to customers looks to be succeeding in not only reducing those costs but in lowering premiums.  . . .

More: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/fivepoints/health-affairs-health-spending-report

The men who hate Hillary

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/ts/men-who-hate-hillary-clinton

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/08/1350315/-Republican-obsession-with-Hillary-Clinton-continues-apace

Rich GOP donors want to "clear the field" for 2016 to get down to one top candidate. Good luck with that

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/09/gops_bloody_16_nightmare_why_rich_donors_dream_of_party_unity_is_doomed/

No, a third party won't solve everything

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/8/7352425/third-party-america

Theocracy watch

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/09/the_dangerous_myth_at_the_heart_of_conservative_ideology_partner/
The right believes the separation of church and state is a modern conceit. It couldn't be further from the truth 

The most dangerous jobs

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/8/7349511/workplace-deaths-chart

The kind of people they are

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/st-louis-bar-cancels-michael-brown-special
Missouri Bar Cancels "Michael Brown Special" - 6 Shots For $10

Bonus item: This is your brain on procrastination

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/8/7352833/procrastination-psychology-help-stop


***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.***

TORTURE POSITIONS

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/12/former-cia-director-hayden-warns-against-releasing-senate-torture-report/383491/
Former CIA Director Braces for 'Torture Report'

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/12/07/former-cia-chief-says-agency-never-lied-about-torture/
Former CIA chief says agency never lied about torture

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/08/us/politics/bush-and-cia-ex-officials-rebut-torture-report.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Bush and C.I.A. Ex-Officials Rebut Torture Report

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/07/1349523/-President-Obama-s-nuclear-option-on-torture

Thank god for the courts, eh?

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/when-fascism-came-to-america.html
The U.S. National Security Agency should have an unlimited ability to collect digital information in the name of protecting the country against terrorism and other threats, an influential federal judge said during a debate on privacy.  

“I think privacy is actually overvalued,” Judge Richard Posner, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, said during a conference about privacy and cybercrime . . [read on]

Soon it will be open warfare between Obama and the Republicans. No one is even pretending any more

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/07/obama-congress-veto_n_6283688.html
Obama, Congress Brace For Veto Showdowns

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/226197-gop-pins-hopes-of-dismantling-obamacare-on-the-courts
GOP pins hopes of dismantling ObamaCare on the courts

http://politicalwire.com/2014/12/07/gop-congress-will-make-anti-abortion-push/
GOP Congress Will Make Anti-Abortion Push  

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/08/us/politics/for-obama-a-go-it-alone-push-fits-the-times.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
For Obama, a Go-It-Alone Push Fits the Times

Save us from ourselves! The dysfunctional GOPers in the House may need Democratic votes to keep from shutting down the government

http://blogs.rollcall.com/218/nancy-pelosi-democrats-irrelevant-just-watch/?dcz=
 
Is it time for the Dems to write off the Deep South?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/08/dems-it-s-time-to-dump-dixie.html

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/05/upshot/demise-of-the-southern-democrat-is-now-nearly-compete.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=1

Whoa

http://politicalwire.com/2014/12/08/just-half-who-voted-for-obamacare-remain-in-senate/
Just Half Who Voted for Obamacare Remain in Senate 

Early oppo research against the 20 or so GOP presidential hopefuls

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2014/12/08/?entry=mb-3 

Criminal lawyers

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/us/politics/energy-firms-in-secretive-alliance-with-attorneys-general.html
The letter to the Environmental Protection Agency from Attorney General Scott Pruitt of Oklahoma carried a blunt accusation: Federal regulators were grossly overestimating the amount of air pollution caused by energy companies drilling new natural gas wells in his state.  

But Mr. Pruitt left out one critical point. The three-page letter was written by lawyers for Devon Energy, one of Oklahoma’s biggest oil and gas companies, and was delivered to him by Devon’s chief of lobbying.  

“Outstanding!” William F. Whitsitt, who at the time directed government relations at the company, said in a note to Mr. Pruitt’s office. . . .

Koch addiction

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/koch-brothers-rnc-113359.html#ixzz3LJ82LTZW
The Koch brothers and their allies are pumping tens of millions of dollars into a data company that’s developing detailed, state-of-the-art profiles of 250 million Americans, giving the brothers’ political operation all the earmarks of a national party. . . . 

Are the conservatives finally learning how to use social media?

http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/conservatives-build-7-million-strong-digital-army-to-push-gop-rightward-in-2016-20141207

Wow

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/07/1348587/-H8ers-gotta-H8-A-conservative-view-of-the-liberal-media
A conservative view of the liberal media

Bonus item: The worst

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/08/5_worst_right_wing_moments_of_the_week_%E2%80%94_bill_oreillys_latest_deranged_conspiracy_theory_partner/
5 worst right-wing moments of the week — Bill O’Reilly’s latest deranged conspiracy theory 

***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.***

COLOR BLIND

The one place where racial profiling is still legal 

http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2014/12/06/what-exempting-border-agents-from-new-racial-profiling-rules-means-for-millions-of-americans/ 

More: http://www.salon.com/2005/08/22/racial_profilin
Why racial profiling doesn’t work 

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/05/iftikhar.profiling.does.not.work/
Why profiling doesn't work

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2010/12/why-racial-profiling-doesnt-work/67536/
Why Racial Profiling Doesn't Work
 
http://www.lamberthconsulting.com/page/racial-profiling-doesnt-work
Racial Profiling Doesn't Work

http://www.psmag.com/navigation/books-and-culture/hey-tsa-racial-profiling-doesnt-work-25725/
Hey TSA, Racial Profiling Doesn’t Work

http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/paying-price-human-cost-racial-profiling/racial-profiling-doesnt-work
Racial profiling doesn't work

http://civilliberty.about.com/od/lawenforcementterrorism/tp/Against-Racial-Profiling.htm
Why Racial Profiling is a Bad Idea

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/13/opinion/the-fallacy-of-racial-profiling.html
The Fallacy of Racial Profiling 

They have ALEC, we have this

https://stateinnovation.org/ 

The comeback of the rustbelt states

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/07/the-rustbelt-roars-back-from-the-dead.html 

One more Senate seat to the Repubs

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/voters-in-louisiana-head-to-polls-on-runoff-day/2014/12/06/665328dc-7d79-11e4-9a27-6fdbc612bff8_story.html?wprss=rss_politics

Tax extenders

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/6/7341491/tax-extenders-broken-congress
 
Killing the electoral college

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/06/now_theyre_trying_to_steal_2016_the_demented_gop_schemes_to_rewire_the_electoral_college_and_elect_a_tea_party_president/

The myths about sexual assault

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/6/7342971/rape-myths-sexual-assault 

A new Ayn Rand novel, for her fans

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/randroid-ideal.html
Rand famously admired a serial killer as the ultimate expression of objectivist manhood and based her male characters on some of his attributes. She was known to have written an unfinished novel about him. . . .  

A question that answers itself

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/05/1349710/-Will-the-traditional-media-bypass-Obamacare-politics-to-acknowledge-its-big-policy-triumphs
Will the traditional media bypass Obamacare politics to acknowledge its big policy triumphs?

Theocracy watch, Sunday edition

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/07/humanist_chaplain_john_figdor_religion_introduces_moral_problems_that_wouldnt_exist_otherwise/
“Religion introduces moral problems that wouldn’t exist otherwise” 

More: http://www.salon.com/2014/12/06/is_mocking_religion_enough_harris_dawkins_and_the_future_of_atheistsecular_politics/

The Sunday talk show line-ups

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/sunday-morning-bobblehead-thread
ABC's "This Week" - New York Mayor Bill de Blasio; Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif.; Gov. John Kasich, R-Ohio.

NBC's "Meet the Press" - Esaw Garner, widow of the unarmed black man whose chokehold death has sparked protests across the country; the Rev. Al Sharpton; Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter; Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed; Cyrus Vance, Manhattan district attorney; Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, governor-elect

CBS' "Face the Nation" - William Bratton, New York Police commissioner; Cornell William Brooks, NAACP president; John Scott Thomson, police commissioner in Camden, New Jersey; Peter Westmacott, British ambassador to the U.S.

CNN's "State of the Union" - Former President George W. Bush; Julian Castro, Housing and Urban Development secretary; Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas; Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich.
 

Bonus item: Beer and wine habits are changing

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/07/beer-countries-vs-wine-countries.html 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/03/the-great-beer-abandonment-americas-young-drinkers-are-increasingly-drinking-wine-and-hard-alcohol-instead/

***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.***

BACK TO WORK

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/closer-look-the-best-year-jobs-1999
The best year for jobs since 1999

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/5/7339203/november-jobs-record
It's a record: The U.S. economy has never before delivered 50 straight months of payrolls growth. 

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/5/7339547/recovery-winter
Is today's jobs report a sign of a real recovery?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/05/this-is-what-a-real-recovery-looks-like-the-economy-added-321000-jobs-in-november/
This is what a real recovery looks like

More: http://www.vox.com/2014/12/5/7339073/jobs-report-good-news
 
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/us-job-growth-soars-tops-300k

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/05/wages-are-finally-rising-but-america-still-needs-a-big-raise/

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/05/1348282/-Government-reports-321-000-new-jobs-added-in-November-Previous-two-months-revised-upward

Watch immigration rip the GOP apart

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_12/gop_unity_on_immigration_wont053190.php
 
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/12/republicans_divided_on_immigration_ted_cruz_accuses_republicans_of_breaking.html

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/05/erickson_goes_nuts_on_immigration_redstates_resident_alpha_male_challenges_boehners_manliness/

Theocracy watch

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/06/9_ways_christian_zealots_cripple_america_partner/
9 ways Christian zealots cripple America  

Once a great magazine: the end of The New Republic

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_12/tnr_at_the_crossroads053183.php

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

I won't miss her

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/12/candy-crowley-is-leaving-cnn.html

Bonus item: Everybody does it

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/4/7332411/fart-flatulence





***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.***

REACTION SHOTS

Even some conservatives are angry about the Garner case

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/05/us/politics/anger-at-chokehold-death-crosses-political-lines.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/12/04/many-liberals-and-conservatives-find-themselves-on-common-ground-following-the-garner-decision/

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/12/04/can-eric-garners-killing-get-liberals-and-conservatives-to-agree-on-police-reforms/
Can Eric Garner’s killing get liberals and conservatives to agree on police reforms?

OTHER reactions

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/05/the_4_most_bizarre_right_wing_reactions_to_the_eric_garner_decision_partner/
The 4 most bizarre right-wing reactions to the Eric Garner decision  

More: http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/12/some-fair-and-balanced-race-baiting-fox-news
Some Fair and Balanced Race Baiting at Fox News

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/04/rand_paul%E2%80%99s_terrible_night_he_wrecks_his_2016_campaign_with_an_awful_eric_garner_answer/
Rand Paul just wrecked his ’16 campaign: Watch his awful Eric Garner answer 

It's about time

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/04/white-house-immigration-actions_n_6272192.html
White House Turns To Aggressive Defense Of Immigration Actions

More: http://www.vox.com/2014/12/4/7335189/republican-immigration-plan 

Obamacare is working

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/5/7336807/obamacare-enrollment-costs

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/12/4-new-studies-obamacare-working-incredibly-well.html

More: http://politicalwire.com/2014/12/04/obamacare-is-working-3/

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trent-lott-urges-gop-be-responsible-obamacare

Bonus item: No, saying you can't prove that Christie knew about Bridgegate is not the same as "clearing" him 

http://politicalwire.com/2014/12/05/bridge-scandal-report-cannot-say-if-christie-knew/

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/05/chris-christie-cleared-by-bridgegate-committee.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.***

"I CAN'T BREATHE!"

Another case that looks like excessive police force, another dead black guy. And another grand jury that doesn't see anything wrong with it

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2014/12/03/8dc55084-7b2b-11e4-84d4-7c896b90abdc_story.html?wprss=rss_politics

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/3/7327745/eric-garner-grand-jury-decision

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/12/garner

DESPITE a body camera video: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/12/03/obamas-body-camera-argument-just-took-a-big-hit/

http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2014/07/29/335847224/what-we-see-in-the-eric-garner-video-and-what-we-dont

http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2014/12/03/video-of-nypd-cop-killing-eric-garner-was-not-enough-to-convince-grand-jury-black-lives-matter/ 

An indictment of the system: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/03/the-nypd-banned-chokeholds-20-years-ago-but-hundreds-of-complaints-are-still-being-filed/
The NYPD banned chokeholds 20 years ago, but hundreds of complaints are still being filed
 
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/03/i-can-t-breathe-i-can-t-breathe-a-moral-indictment-of-the-nypd.html

http://prospect.org/article/10-ways-system-rigged-against-justice-people-wrongly-killed-cops

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/03/the-eric-garner-case-should-have-gone-to-trial.html

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/3/7327697/police-misconduct-garner-jail

What next? http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/12/what-happens-next-in-the-eric-garner-case.html

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/4/7328987/police-misconduct-garner-DOJ

Fox World's version: http://www.salon.com/2014/12/03/fox_news_wins_the_award_for_most_tone_deaf_response_to_eric_garner_grand_jury_decision/ 

President McCain . . . isn't

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/3/7327649/mccain-hungary-fascist

GOPers attack their own report on Benghazi

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/republican-criticism-benghazi-house-intelligence-committee-report

Yep

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/12/03/meet-the-new-republican-problem-same-as-the-old-republican-problem/
Meet the new Republican problem. Same as the old Republican problem.

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/12/03/immigration-causing-deep-division-in-the-gop/

Very nice

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/03/how-the-worlds-biggest-companies-bribe-foreign-governments-in-11-charts/
How the world’s biggest companies bribe foreign governments

Shhh! Good news: keep it secret

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/3/7328423/health-costs-lowest-growth
Health costs in 2013 grew at slowest rate since 1960

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/03/heres-exactly-how-the-united-states-spends-2-9-trillion-on-health-care/ 

Wingnuts are trying to kill a Jeb Bush candidacy before it even starts

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/03/1349117/-Rand-Paul-Fox-News-go-on-offensive-against-Jeb-Bush

http://www.businessinsider.com/jeb-bush-tea-party-consevative-problem-president-2016-2014-10

http://irregulartimes.com/2014/11/21/republicans-against-jeb-bush/

Rick Perry

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/rick-perry-has-signed-279-death.html
Rick Perry has signed 279 death warrants. 279!!! And he wants to be president.

More: http://www.salon.com/2014/12/03/rick_perrys_nixon_moment_why_tonights_looming_execution_is_a_test_of_his_humanity/

Standardized testing in schools: how it really works

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/3/7323467/standardized-tests-mountain-dew

Bonus item: 100 years of beauty

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/03/100-years-of-beauty-styles-in-1-minute.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.***

GIVING THEM A FEW CRUMBS

Placating the extremists: impeachment or censure or disapproval?

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/gop-censure-obama

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/02/1348778/-GOP-doesn-t-want-to-risk-impeaching-Obama-but-what-about-censure-Or-disapproval

http://prospect.org/article/congressional-gop-leaders-figure-out-how-temporarily-tame-conservative-beast

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/02/john-boehner-immigration-shutdown_n_6254978.html

It's not enough: http://politicalwire.com/2014/12/03/boehner-plan-to-keep-government-open-may-fail/
Boehner Plan to Keep Government Open May Fail 

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/house-gop-still-stumbling-towards-shutdown
The “Hell No” caucus is once again causing headaches for Republican leadership.

Mitch McConnell is "perplexed"

http://politicalwire.com/2014/12/02/mcconnell-is-perplexed-by-obama/
“By any objective standard the president got crushed in this election. So I’ve been perplexed by the reaction since the election, the sort of in your face dramatic move to the left. I don’t know what we can expect in terms of reaching bipartisan agreement.”

More: http://politicalwire.com/2014/12/02/mcconnell-quietly-tries-to-roll-back-campaign-finance-laws/
McConnell Tries to Roll Back Campaign Finance Laws

[NB: In a totally bipartisan way, of course.]

After the pre-election 24/7 panic over ebola, public attention has waned. But Obama hasn't forgotten about it

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/obama-hasnt-forgotten-about-ebola

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/2/7318913/ebola-virus-outbreak

John McCain offers to choose Obama's Defense Sect'y for him

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/mccain-envisions-reunion-sorts-three-amigos

Obama makes his own: http://www.vox.com/2014/12/2/7319369/ashton-carter-secretary-defense

Obama wants to close Gitmo - Congress won't let him

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/02/congress_deals_big_setback_to_obamas_effort_to_close_guantanamo/

The new way of war

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/2/7320397/super-soldiers-darpa

Is the GOP anti-science?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/02/tea-partiers-and-traditional-republicans-are-split-on-science/

Good news?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/02/wonkbook-why-abortions-have-fallen-to-their-lowest-rate-since-roe-v-wade/
Why abortions have fallen to their lowest rate since Roe v. Wade

Sorry? SORRY??!!

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/hooks-school-board-kkk-christmas-facebook
Texas School Board Member Sorry For KKK 'White Christmas' Facebook Post 

Paul Ryan has tried to carve out a niche as the "compassionate Republican." Well, not so much

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/2/7320363/eitc-child-credit-ryan

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/paul-ryans-compassionate-conservatism.html

Rand Paul wants to run for Senate and for President at the same time. Kentucky law says he can't. So what will he do?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/12/02/rand-paul-is-running-for-reelection-he-will-also-run-for-president-heres-how-thats-possible/

A hint of mint

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/1/7309499/mint-fresh-breath

Bonus item: Perfect NPR shows to replace "Car Talk"

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/11/competition-no-36-misplaced-emphasis.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

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THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST

The GOP 2016 lineup

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/12/foxs-liasson-fawns-over-very-substantial

"A strategic success and a policy failure" 

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/mitch-mcconnell-and-the-limits-scorched-earth-obstructionism 

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over and hoping for a different result

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/01/1348568/-Public-would-blame-Republicans-for-a-shutdown-again
Public would blame Republicans for a shutdown, again 

More: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/house-gop-struggling-shutdown-deadline-looms
 
A party divided

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/republican-fault-lines-113232.html#ixzz3Kk0x09wu
The new GOP divide

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/01/gop_internal_divisions_are_flaring_why_boehners_plan_to_let_conservatives_vent_is_doomed/
GOP internal divisions are flaring: Why Boehner’s plan to let conservatives “vent” is doomed 

More: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/12/the-lame-duck-countdown-the-note/
Less than a month after suffering an electoral drubbing, President Obama has succeeded in placing the majority of the internal party angst back in the other camp. . . . 

Well, of course

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/01/poll_obama_approval_rating_skyrockets_with_latinos_after_immigration_order/
Obama approval rating skyrockets among Latinos after immigration order  

Hey!

http://politicalwire.com/2014/12/01/voters-no-longer-want-to-repeal-obamacare/
Voters No Longer Want to Repeal Obamacare  

Release of CIA torture report coming soon?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/01/cia-torture-report-days-away-feinstein-says.html

Angela Merkel nails Putin

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/1/7313443/vladimir-putin-merkel
"I understand why he has to do this — to prove he's a man," Merkel said. "He's afraid of his own weakness. Russia has nothing, no successful politics or economy. All they have is this."

More: http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/12/vladimir-putin-has-careened-one-diplomatic-disaster-another
Militarily, Putin has had a mixed year: a clean and quick military victory in Crimea on the upside, but an ongoing military quagmire in eastern Ukraine on the downside. Diplomatically, though, it's been an endless succession of bad news. . . 

The UN climate talks

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/1/7314727/un-climate-talks-lima

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/01/why-do-black-and-latino-americans-support-climate-action-so-much-more-than-whites/
Why do black and Latino Americans support climate action so much more than whites?

More body cameras for cops

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/12/obama-wants-to-spend-75m-on-police-body-cameras.html

More: http://www.vox.com/2014/12/1/7314603/body-cameras-police

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/1/7317055/vox-sentences-body-cam 

Good news: smoking numbers are down

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/1/7313535/smoking-low-quitting

In Fox World, an obsession with presidential pronouns

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/foxs-renewed-interest-presidential-pronouns

Bonus item: Chris Rock

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/chris-rock-race-relations-nonsense
"Here’s the thing. When we talk about race relations in America or racial progress, it’s all nonsense. There are no race relations. White people were crazy. Now they’re not as crazy . . . So, to say Obama is progress is saying that he’s the first black person that is qualified to be president. That’s not black progress. That’s white progress," Rock said. "There’s been black people qualified to be president for hundreds of years. If you saw Tina Turner and Ike having a lovely breakfast over there, would you say their relationship’s improved? Some people would. But a smart person would go, “Oh, he stopped punching her in the face.” It’s not up to her. Ike and Tina Turner’s relationship has nothing to do with Tina Turner. Nothing."  

Rock also said that former President George W. Bush had an advantage that President Barack Obama does not. "There’s an advantage that Bush had that Obama doesn’t have. People thinking you’re dumb is an advantage. Obama started as a genius. It’s like, What? I’ve got to keep doing that?" Rock said. "That’s hard to do! So it’s not that Obama’s disappointing. It’s just his best album might have been his first album."

But seriously: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/01/chris-rock-is-right-white-americans-are-a-lot-less-racist-than-they-used-to-be/
White Americans are a lot less racist than they used to be. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/01/whites-greatly-overestimate-the-share-of-crimes-committed-by-black-people/


***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.***

FALSE CHOICES

Stories like this drive me crazy: If only Obama had worked with the Republicans on immigration reform . . .

They weren't going to pass anything. Imperfect as it is, executive action was the only option, and he deserves credit for doing what he could

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/12/01/why-president-obama-just-made-comprehensive-immigration-reform-tougher/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obamas-2012-daca-move-offers-a-window-into-pros-and-cons-of-executive-action/2014/11/30/88be7a36-7188-11e4-893f-86bd390a3340_story.html?wprss=rss_politics

More: http://prospect.org/article/how-obama-boxed-republicans-his-immigration-order



The GOP's fake makeover - and how the media helped them

http://www.salon.com/2014/11/30/gops_fake_new_makeover_how_the_media_sat_down_on_the_job_in_2014/

Then don't vote for them!

http://politicalwire.com/2014/12/01/half-see-gop-control-as-bad-for-nation/ 
Half See GOP Control as Bad for Nation 

Send your cops to college

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/01/are-college-educated-police-safer.html

Theocracy watch

http://www.vox.com/xpress/2014/11/30/7309773/religious-symbols-worlds-flags
A third of the world’s flags have religious symbols on them 

In case you missed the Sunday talk shows

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/11/30/what-you-missed-on-the-sunday-shows/

Chuck Todd knows how to be a good reporter. He just doesn't bother sometimes

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/11/chuck-todd-pretends-david-brooks-expert

Bonus item: Don't pick on the Obama girls!

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/11/staffer-sorry-for-insulting-obama-girls-clothes.html

http://firedoglake.com/2014/11/30/slut-shaming-the-obama-girls-republicans-in-glass-house-shouldnt-throw-stones/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2014/11/30/nothing-classy-about-elizabeth-lautens-criticism-of-the-obama-girls/ 

***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.***