HALL OF MIRRORS

Back again?

http://news.firedoglake.com/2012/04/17/bowles-simpson-returns-in-senate-budget-committee/
Kent Conrad, the retiring Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, just announced that the markup for the FY 2013 budget will commence tomorrow. And instead of creating model legislation, he will simply take the recommendations proposed by the Chairmen of the Bowles-Simpson deficit commission, popularly known as the “catfood commission,” as the baseline. . . [read on]

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/conrad-budget-republicans-simpson-bowles.php
Conrad Calls GOP Bluff

“Recovery”?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/wonkbook-the-recovery-has-made-inequality-worse/2012/04/18/gIQAdOyMQT_blog.html
The 'recovery' has made inequality worse

Class warfare: As American as apple pie

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_04/the_proud_american_history_of036731.php

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: The Liar’s new budget ad is based on phony numbers

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/romney-budget-attack-based-on-loony-view-of-the-economy.php

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/17/11248638-why-government-family-budgets-arent-the-same

Lying as a way of being

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/04/17/romney_claims_kerry_released_just_two_tax_returns.html
Romney: "Well, we've had people run for president before, and they've released two years. John Kerry released two years of taxes... I've released one already, put the estimate out for the next year. We'll have two years of taxes."

But Think Progress points out Kerry actually released 20 years of tax returns when he was a candidate in 2004. . . .

More: http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/17/11246912-when-lying-is-a-business-plan

Hey, Willard, let me introduce you to two words: Yes, and No

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/17/1084136/-Mitt-Romney-still-won-t-give-a-straight-answer-about-Lilly-Ledbetter-Fair-Pay-Act
DIANE SAWYER: I want to talk about a couple of issues relating to women. This 19 point difference between you and the president on women. Here are some specific questions. If you were president-- you had been president-- would you have signed the Lilly Ledbetter Law? . . . [read on]

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/mitt-romneys-lilly-ledbetter-problem.html

More: http://prospect.org/article/dont-tell-em-show-em
[Paul Waldman] This is something Romney has done before: talking about what he will and won't talk about, instead of just talking about the thing he wants to talk about (for instance, when he gets uncomfortable questions about Mormonism, he tends to say things like "I'm sorry, we're just not going to have a discussion about religion in my view"). He has a meta-communication problem. It pulls him outside the moment, making him an observer of his own campaign. It's a subtle thing, but it reinforces the idea of Romney as a distant, overly analytical, and ultimately unknowable figure. . . .

Is the gender gap a long-term trend?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/a-permanent-gender-gap-problem-for-republicans/2012/04/17/gIQACtDlOT_blog.html

You know what your mother told you: If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/gopers-struggle-to-say-anything-good-about-romney.php

More: http://prospect.org/article/try-not-get-so-excited-boehner

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/18/11263748-the-gop-power-play-on-public-display

Ted Nugent, Romney supporter

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/ted-nugent-threatened-to-kill-president-obama.html
"If Barack Obama becomes the president in November, again, I will be either be dead or in jail by this time next year."

http://pamshouseblend.firedoglake.com/2012/04/17/gun-toting-weasel-ted-nugent-obama-dems-are-like-a-coyote-that-needs-to-be-shot/
Ted Nugent: Obama, Dems are like a Coyote that needs to be shot

More: http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/ted-nugent-responds-loesch.html
Loesch: You're a scapegoat. They're trying to suggest that you said something that you emphatically did not say.

Nugent: Absolutely ... I have never in my life threatened anyone's life. I am incapable of threatening anyone's life. Because, I'm about positive change.

[NB: That’s the Dana Loesch that CNN thinks deserves their air-time]

Good advice

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/ignore-the-polls-watch-the-averages/2012/04/17/gIQAkyY0NT_blog.html
Ignore the polls. Watch the averages.

More: http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/16/notes-on-poll-watching-as-shift-toward-general-election-season-begins/

Well, well, well

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/how-republicans-threw-in-the-towel-on-deficit-reduction.php
For anyone who paid even passing attention to U.S. politics in 2011, the themes were loud and persistent: Republicans had stormed back into Washington to put an end to excessive government spending and runaway deficits, and would take no prisoners if Democrats stood in their way. . . .

Fast-forward to 2012 — the GOP’s leverage is gone, and the legislative landscape on Capitol Hill has fallowed. Republicans are still running on deficit reduction, but as the election nears, their governing agenda reveals something that close observers recognized all along: Deficit reduction was never the point. . . [read on]

Cowards

http://www.americablog.com/2012/04/obama-transition-advisor-obamas.html
President-Elect Obama’s advisers feared in 2008 that authorities [sic] would “revolt” and that Republicans would block his policy agenda if he prosecuted Bush-era war crimes, according to [UC Berkeley Law School Dean Christopher Edley, Jr.,] who served as one of Obama’s top transition advisers. . . .

[NB: Well, it’s a good thing he didn’t get the Republicans angry enough to block his agenda, isn’t it?]

Get rid of the filibuster?

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_04/never_get_used_to_the_filibust036732.php

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/04/fear-keeps-filibuster-alive

The big lie about bipartisanship

http://digbysblog.blogspot.ca/2012/04/nice-distillation-to-send-to-your.html

ALEC backs down

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/17/11248290-alec-backpedals-drops-social-agenda
ALEC backpedals, drops social agenda

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/alec-reorganizes-disbands-voterid-and-stand

http://news.firedoglake.com/2012/04/17/alec-retreats-on-non-economic-legislation/

More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.ca/2012/04/alec-cries-uncle-sort-of.html

http://prospect.org/article/alec-gives-theres-no-reason-celebrate

Because it’s all been solved now, right? Right?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/17/1084122/-Climate-change-coverage-down-90-in-2011-on-the-Sunday-talk-shows-All-Republicans-no-scientists
Climate change coverage down 90% in 2011 on the Sunday talk shows. All Republicans, no scientists

Bonus item: Atrios’s Wanker of the Decade

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2012/04/one-true-wanker-of-decade.html

http://digbysblog.blogspot.ca/2012/04/even-crazier-than-you-are.html

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/thomas-friedman-bloomberg-president-8173073

The runners-up: http://www.eschatonblog.com/2012/04/final-countdown.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.***

THE STEALTH CANDIDATE

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/17/us/politics/aides-play-down-romneys-comments-on-tax-changes-for-wealthy.html
Senior advisers to Mitt Romney said Monday that Mr. Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, was merely tossing around ideas, not making policy announcements, when his chat with donors about some significant changes to the tax code was overheard by reporters at a fund-raiser this weekend. . . .

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/hot-mic-exposes-romneys-tax-promises-as-a-mirage.php

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/16/11226567-romney-drops-policy-hints-at-closed-door-fundraiser

http://crooksandliars.com/kenneth-quinnell/romney-says-he-might-eliminate-hu

http://prospect.org/article/romneys-not-so-secret-plan

http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/romney-uncertainty-principle
But whatever hypothesis you may subscribe to, an incontrovertible truth is that on almost any issue, Mitt Romney's position changes when observed. Call it the Romney Uncertainty Principle. . . .

Endless

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/16/11225552-why-romneys-tax-returns-matter
Why Romney's tax returns matter

Clueless

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/16/1083843/-Mitt-Romney-says-he-needs-a-new-plan-on-how-to-get-the-women-
Mitt Romney says he needs a new plan on how 'to get the women'

Pointless

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/romney-obama-is-a-divisive-union-lackey.html
Romney: Obama Is a Divisive Union Lackey

Useless

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/romney-obama-start-packing
Romney to Obama: Start Packing

Hopeless

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/republicans-recite-dem-attack-lines----with-little-hope-of-success.php
Republicans Recite Dem Attack Lines — With Little Hope Of Success

Friendless

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/17/11245621-a-severe-crisis-of-popularity
'A severe crisis of popularity'

More: http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/poll-romney-is-historically-unpopular.html

Smart analysis: the far right understands that you can lose an election but win the politics. They’re already lining up to “explain” that Romney lost because he wasn’t conservative enough

http://digbysblog.blogspot.ca/2012/04/new-advisors.html

The right headline

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/republicans-block-buffett-rule-as-dems-vow-to-fight-on.php
Republicans Block Buffett Rule

The wrong headline

http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshbarro/2012/04/16/buffett-rule-fails-in-senate-51-45/
Buffett Rule Fails in Senate, 51-45

[NB: Where I come from, 51-45 means you won.]

More: http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/17/11244428-senate-gop-kills-buffett-rule

Top Ten Tax Facts

http://prospect.org/article/top-ten-tax-facts

Let’s go to the circus!

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/guantanamo_ksm_911_trial.php
Guantanamo Prepares For Media Storm At Trial Of KSM, 9/11 Conspirators

Bad: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/under_obama_public_loses_interest_in_guantanamo.php
Guantanamo Lawyers: Obama Gets Away With Legal Moves Bush Wouldn’t Have

Glenn Greenwald on war and secrecy

http://www.salon.com/2012/04/16/speech_on_secrecy_and_war/

Don’t they have anything better to do?

http://digbysblog.blogspot.ca/2012/04/dancing-with-diplomatic-stars.html
Predictably, the foreign wingnuts are atwitter about Hillary's dancing picture. If all goes according to the usual plan, the domestic wingnuts will soon be on the case . . .

The kind of people they are

http://pamshouseblend.firedoglake.com/2012/04/16/florida-fire-captain-uses-facebook-page-to-call-trayvon-martins-parents-%E2%80%98shtbag%E2%80%A6-welfare-dependent%E2%80%99/
A Miami-Dade fire captain is under investigation after he asserted that the death of an unarmed Florida teen was the fault of “failed, shitbag, ignorant, pathetic, welfare dependent excuses for parents.” . . .

Beckmann later deleted the post and defended himself, writing, “I am a private citizen and have the same right to freely express an opinion on any subject that anyone else does. . . . ”

First abortion, then contraception, then . . .

http://firedoglake.com/2012/04/16/late-night-fdl-arrogance/

Oh ye of little faith

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/anti-mormon-pastor-endorses-romney-because-o
A Texas pastor who has repeatedly called Mitt Romney's religion a cult is now endorsing the former Massachusetts governor . . . [read on]

Michele Bachmann says she is pro “choice”

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/16/11226044-its-a-matter-of-choice
"What we want is women to be able to make their own choices." Bachmann keeps saying this, but I don't think it means what she thinks it means. [read on]

Profiles in Courage

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/gingrich-cuts-off-interview-after-question-about-fox
A reporter for the Daily Tar Heel, the independent student newspaper at the Univ. of North Carolina, wrote a column Monday recounting a Newt Gingrich aide cutting off a scheduled interview with the candidate after just one question . . .

More: http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/newt-gingrich-penguin.html
Penguin Attacks Newt Gingrich’s Last Shred of Dignity

Bonus item: For those who STILL aren’t satisfied with the story about George W. Bush’s dubious National Guard service

http://www.texasmonthly.com/2012-05-01/feature.php

More: http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/04/bush-national-guard-story-lives

***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.***

MONEY MATTERS

The rich ARE different

http://digbysblog.blogspot.ca/2012/04/new-nobles.html
The Romneys gave $100 million to their sons and paid not one penny of gift tax. They were able to take assets they have that are producing enormous income and, under the law, give that money to their children and not pay any taxes on it. . . .

John McCain says HE’S seen Mitt Romney’s tax returns, and there’s nothing to worry about – well that’s good enough for me, darn it!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/mitt-romney-doesnt-need-to-release-all-of-his-income-taxes-mccain-says/2012/04/15/gIQAOojVJT_blog.html

We’ve just seen another Republican hissy fit over the fact that Ann Romney was a “stay-at-home mom” (uh-huh). So what does her hubby really think about stay-at-home moms?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/mitt-romney-flashback-stay-at-home-moms-need-to-learn-dignity-of-work/2012/04/15/gIQAhmbZJT_blog.html
“While I was governor,” Romney said, “85 percent of the people on a form of welfare assistance in my state had no work requirement. I wanted to increase the work requirement. I said, for instance, that even if you have a child two years of age, you need to go to work. . .”

More: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/romney-welfare-mothers-you-need-go-work

http://digbysblog.blogspot.ca/2012/04/how-many-jobs-are-they-supposed-to-work.html

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/does-mitt-romney-think-his-wife-lacks-dignity.html

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/15/1083575/-Mitt-Romney-to-mothers-Want-dignity-You-need-to-go-to-work-

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/16/11224246-mitts-muddled-message-on-moms

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/16/us/politics/ann-romneys-choice-not-typical-of-stay-at-home-mothers.html
Across the country, 70 percent of married women over the age of 25 with children work outside the home. . . . [read on]

Can’t Buy Me Love

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/04/15/bonus_quote_of_the_day.html
"You've got a few dozen people who are going to write $5 million, $10 million, $15 million, $50 million checks to try and purchase the White House on behalf of Governor Romney."

-- White House adviser David Plouffe

The Liar, in a candid moment

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/04/romneys_live_mic_moment.php
[Romney] “I’m going to take a lot of departments in Washington, and agencies, and combine them. Some eliminate, but I’m probably not going to lay out just exactly which ones are going to go.” “I’m going to take a lot of departments in Washington, and agencies, and combine them. Some eliminate, but I’m probably not going to lay out just exactly which ones are going to go.” [read on]

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_04/mitt_romney_is_not_a_fan_of_th036703.php

Bang bang!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/the-sweep-of-pro-gun-laws-in-recent-years-a-handy-guide.php
How Pro-Gun Laws Swept The Nation Since 2009

The kind of people they are

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/15/1083575/-Mitt-Romney-to-mothers-Want-dignity-You-need-to-go-to-work-
Southern Baptist Convention Leader Says Trayvon Martin Case Used To 'Gin Up the Black Vote'

OK, where do I sign up?

http://my.firedoglake.com/phoenix/2012/04/15/sheila-bairs-fabulous-idea-10-million-loans-for-everyone/
$10 Million Loans for Everyone!

Huh?

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/bachmann-im-seriously-looking-endorsement-f
BACHMANN: Well, I'm very seriously looking into an endorsement for Mitt Romney. As you know, Rick Santorum just got out of the race this week. I think we're seeing a uniting and a pulling together around our eventual nominee and I have said that I want my voice to be one of uniting our party; the independents, the main stream, the conservatives, evangelicals, the tea party movement. I want to unite our party and so I'm waiting for our party to come together and help in that process.

Herman Cain, weirdo

http://crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/new-herman-cain-ad-features-murderous-

More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvOqHKzJzS4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYN-Awrq3og

Meet the Fox Mole

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/pointless-uproar-over-fox-mole
So it's no surprise that Howie has his smelling salts out over Joe Muto, the so-called "Fox Mole". Because Joe Muto broke the code of Omerta and revealed that the Fox News Channel plays to the lizard brains of its viewers. . . [read on]

In case you missed the Sunday talk shows

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/15/tv-soundoff-sunday-talkin_n_1426313.html

Bonus item: Newsweek goes to a weird, dark place

http://digbysblog.blogspot.ca/2012/04/submission-rules.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.***

THINK PIECE

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/liberals-and-conservatives-dont-just-vote-differently-they-think-differently/2012/04/12/gIQAzb1kDT_story.html
Liberals and conservatives don’t just vote differently. They think differently.

Romney’s immigration problems

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_04/dream_a_little_dream036696.php 

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/tell-us-more-about-romneys-private-views/2012/04/13/gIQA0Jz5ET_blog.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bOUhQzmJPo

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney says he's never hired an illegal immigrant "in my life." But it was disclosed in 2007 that a lawn care company doing work at Romney's home had employed illegal immigrants. 

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/romney-explains-record-of-hiring-illegal-immigrants-as-lawn-keepers/ 

“So we went to the company and we said, look, you can’t have any illegals working on our property,” said Romney. “I’m running for office, for Pete’s sake, I can’t have illegals.” 

Tea Party: we’re still relevant 

http://www.indystar.com/article/20120415/NEWS05/204150371/Is-tea-party-over-Not-all-Lugar-primary-fight-shows 

Hilary Rosen said a foolish thing. Now there’s no end to it 

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/cenk-uygur-blasts-wolf-blitzer-forcing-hil 

Cenk Uygur Blasts Wolf Blitzer for Forcing Hilary Rosen to Apologize to Ann Romney... Again 

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/palin-hilary-rosen-awakened-mama-grizzlies-a 

Palin: Hilary Rosen 'Awakened Mama Grizzlies Across the Nation' 

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-morning-plum-seeing-through-gop-spin-on-hilary-rosen-controversy/2012/04/13/gIQA2btsET_blog.html 

Maeve Reston, for instance, points out that the Rosen battle is somewhat less important than the actual issues and positions Romney has embraced. . . [read on] 

The Sunday talk show line-ups 

http://firedoglake.com/2012/04/15/sunday-talking-heads-april-15-2012/ 

ABC’s This Week: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. Roundtable: ABC News’ Cokie Roberts; former Obama domestic policy adviser Melody Barnes; Wall Street Journal editorial page editor Paul Gigot; advisor to the Romney campaign Kevin Madden; and Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor and publisher of The Nation. To discuss Ann Romney among other things. 

CBS’ Face the Nation: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. Trayvon Martin Roundtable: Michael Eric Dyson, Georgetown University; Touré, Time magazine contributor; Jack Ford, CBS News legal analyst; Mark Strassmann, CBS News (according to Schieffer, Strassmann broke the Trayvon Martin story). “War on Women” Roundtable: Maria Cardona, Democratic strategist; Ruth Marcus, Washington Post; Nora O’Donnell. CBS News; John Dickerson, CBS News. 

CNN’s State of the Union: Bill Cosby on politics, the Trayvon Martin shooting, and the reopening of the historic Howard Theater in Washington D.C. RNC Chair Reince Priebus. “War on Women” stuff with Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). Roundtable: Dan Balz,The Washington Post; Matt Bai, The New York Times. 

NBC’s Meet the Press: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. “War on Women” with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and former presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Roundtable: Harold Ford, Jr., Republican strategist Mike Murphy, and NBC News’ Savannah Guthrie and Chuck Todd. 

Bonus item: The politics of SNL 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/opinion/sunday/dowd-come-back-sarah-palin.html 

[Who?] “I think I’m right in saying,” Downey observed, “that he’s the dumbest person who’s ever been paid to speak on television.” [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). 

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.***

UNBELIEVABLE

“The Real Mitt Romney” may be a contradiction in terms. But sometimes we see glimpses

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/04/the_inner_mitt_emerges.php

Sucking up to the pro-lifers

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_04/romneys_own_words_on_abortion036676.php

Sucking up to the NRA

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_04/whos_distracting_attention_fro036678.php

http://prospect.org/article/mitt-romney-declares-his-conservatism-and-its-time-believe-him

As usual

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/mitt-romney-taxes.html
Mitt Romney Will Release His Taxes ... at Some Point

More lies

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/13/11184541-chronicling-mitts-mendacity-vol-xiii

Manufactured controversies

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/04/13/expect_more_manufactured_controversies.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/dear-media-stop-playing-along-with-fake-controversies/2012/04/13/gIQA3IiCFT_blog.html

Obama accused of being “political.” Horrors!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/yes-the-buffett-rule-is-political-so-what/2012/04/13/gIQAb88cFT_blog.html

The Koch Brothers

http://prospect.org/article/koch-brothers-are-perfectly-sincere

Boy, talk about two people who deserve each other

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/04/13/ailes_hits_back_at_gingrich.html

More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.ca/2012/04/qotd-ailes.html

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/gingrich-in-danger-of-looking-foolish.html
Newt Gingrich May Be in Danger of Looking Foolish, Aides Worry

[NB: Too late!]

***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.***

FAKE UMBRAGE

Isn’t that the way it goes. The Dems have Romney and the GOPers on the ropes over offending women – and with one ill-considered phrase, they lose their leverage and enable the “both sides do it” meme from the media. No, it wasn’t what she meant, and no it isn’t equivalent. But that doesn’t matter – it gives the Repubs an excuse to have another contrived attack of the vapors. . .

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/romney-camp-continues-to-misidentifies-hilary-rosen-as-an-obama-adviser.php
Rosen said Wednesday night that Ann Romney wasn’t the best authority on women’s economic concerns since she’s “never worked a day in her life.” The Romney campaign interpreted that to mean Rosen — and by extenuation President Obama — don’t respect stay-at-home mothers or view raising children as work. . . [read on]

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_04/hilaryrosengate036637.php

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/04/hilary_rosen_ann_romney_the_birth_adolescence_and_death_of_the_democrats_war_on_women_talking_point_.html

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/12/1082717/-Ann-Romney-has-been-attacked-

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-hilary-rosen-controversy-is-absurd/2012/04/12/gIQAD9m0CT_blog.html

http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2012/04/12/the-umbrage-game/

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/04/ann_romney_and_umbrage_the_four_kinds_of_campaign_controversies_and_which_ones_actually_matter_.html

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/12/11166334-taking-the-false-equivalence-fallacy-to-the-extreme
Taking the false-equivalence fallacy to the extreme

Of course

http://firedoglake.com/2012/04/12/the-struggles-ive-seen/
For Republicans and the media who coddle them, nothing is more painful and likely to induce mass fainting spells than the truth, and the faux “controversy” over Hilary Rosen’s disparaging comments about Ann Romney’s idle life in the lap of luxury is a perfect example of this drearily familiar phenomenon. The fact is, Ann Romney hasn’t worked a day in her life . . . [read on]

Who IS Ann Romney? http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/romney-struggles.html

Ahhh

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/12/1082835/-Gallup-Mitt-Romney-least-popular-Republican-nominee-in-modern-history-within-own-party
Gallup: Mitt Romney least popular Republican nominee in modern history within own party

Where the “Buffett Rule” came from

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/how-washington-forgot-where-the-buffett-rule-came-from.php

“The Moral Iceberg”

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/12/1082868/-Religious-right-Gays-are-like-the-iceberg-that-sunk-the-Titanic

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_04/tip_of_the_iceberg036655.php

Fox News goes crazy

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/fox_news_legal_threat_gawker.php
Fox News Accuses Gawker And Its ‘Mole’ Of ‘Criminal And Civil Wrongdoing’

Newt suddenly notices that Fox ISN’T “fair and balanced’ – welcome to the real world, dude

http://crooksandliars.com/blue-texan/newt-gingrich-surprised-discover-fox-ne

http://www.salon.com/2012/04/12/newt_gingrich_fox_news_victim/

http://prospect.org/article/live-comically-biased-news-network-die-comically-biased-news-network
Live By the Comically Biased "News" Network, Die By the Comically Biased "News" Network

Bonus item: But what if your problem is drinking?

http://www.americablog.com/2012/04/drinking-helps-problem-solving-skills.html
Drinking helps problem solving skills

***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.***

REAGAN RULES

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/11/1082595/-Obama-greets-Romney-into-the-general-election-with-Reagan-Rule-
[Obama] I’m not the first President to call for this idea that everybody has got to do their fair share. Some years ago, one of my predecessors traveled across the country pushing for the same concept. [...] So this President gave another speech where he said it was “crazy” -- that's a quote -- that certain tax loopholes make it possible for multimillionaires to pay nothing, while a bus driver was paying 10 percent of his salary. That wild-eyed, socialist, tax-hiking class warrior was Ronald Reagan.

He thought that, in America, the wealthiest should pay their fair share, and he said so. I know that position might disqualify him from the Republican primaries these days -- (laughter) -- but what Ronald Reagan was calling for then is the same thing that we’re calling for now: a return to basic fairness and responsibility; everybody doing their part. And if it will help convince folks in Congress to make the right choice, we could call it the Reagan Rule instead of the Buffett Rule. . .

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/everything-you-know-about-the-buffett-rule-is-wrong/2012/04/11/gIQAXbBmAT_blog.html

Debunking the Liar’s Big Lie that “92%” of the job losses under Obama have hit women (and that it’s Obama’s fault)

http://prospect.org/article/wrong-approach
It seems that Mitt Romney is following the Karl Rove template for presidential campaigns; taking your perceived weaknesses and using them to attack your opponent. . . [read on]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/debunking-romneys-claim-that-its-obamas-war-on-women-charts.php
Mitt Romney’s having a terrible time turning the tables on Democrats. But his camp’s claim that President Obama is the one waging the “real war on women” is best debunked visually. . . .

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/04/lies-damn-lies-and-mitt-romneys-charts
Lies, Damn Lies, and Mitt Romney's Charts

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/keep-an-eye-on-the-big-lie/2012/04/11/gIQAueR4AT_blog.html
I’m glad to see that there’s been a moderately aggressive media response to Mitt Romney’s latest falsehood: The claim that 92 percent of the people who have lost jobs on Obama’s watch are women. . . . [read on]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/11/1082524/-Mitt-Romney-demands-correction-after-PolitiFact-says-one-of-his-lies-is-merely-mostly-false-
Mitt Romney demands correction after PolitiFact says one of his lies is merely 'mostly false'

His own people stumble: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/11/1082435/-Does-Mitt-Romney-support-Lilly-Ledbetter-Fair-Pay-Act-He-ll-get-back-to-us-on-that
Does Mitt Romney support the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act? He'll get back to us on that

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/11/1082454/-Romney-campaign-decides-supporting-equal-pay-for-women-is-the-smart-move

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/11/1082478/-Mitt-Romney-still-has-some-splaining-to-do-on-Lilly-Ledbetter-Fair-Pay-Act

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/11/1082550/-Prominent-Wisconsin-woman-for-Romney-voted-for-equal-pay-enforcement-repeal

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/11/11146446-hitting-the-wrong-note-over-and-over-again
[Steve Benen] I knew a jazz pianist years ago who told me something interesting about how he handled mistakes. "When I hit a wrong note, I keep hitting it -- so the audience will think it's intentional," he said. To move away from the wrong note would be a subtle admission of an error.

I wonder if the Romney campaign knows the same pianist. . . . [read on]

Shake, shake, shake!

http://www.salon.com/2012/04/11/the_etch_a_sketching_begins/
The Etch-A-Sketching begins

More: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/04/let_the_pivot_begin.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-morning-plum-romney-wants-to-pivot-will-anyone-let-him/2012/04/11/gIQAJMcHAT_blog.html
Now that Mitt Romney is the unofficial GOP nominee, his campaign is busily preparing to reintroduce him to the swing constituencies he alienated during the GOP nomination process. The question is this: Will anyone let him make this pivot? . . .

You wouldn’t think there are many people who hanker for the good ol’ days of the McCarthy era – but here’s one

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/allen-west-ive-heard-that-up-to-80-house-dems-are-members-of-the-communist-party.php
Allen West: I’ve ‘Heard’ That Up To 80 House Dems Are Members Of The Communist Party

More: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/allen-west-suggests-80-house-democrats-are-c

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/11/11141504-when-mccarthyism-gets-literal

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/at-long-last-sir-have-you-left-no-sense.html

Didn’t like this under Bush, and I don’t like it now

http://www.emptywheel.net/2012/04/11/cia-general-counsel-if-the-president-authorizes-it-its-legal
CIA General Counsel: If the President Authorizes It, It’s Legal

Killing Bin Laden

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/04/11/clinton_recounts_osama_bin_ladens_death.html
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "gave a play-by-play account of the day Bin Laden was killed" in a speech at the U.S. Naval Academy and recalled how none of the officials in the room watching the operation, including President Obama, "could breathe for 30-35 minutes," . . . [read on]

Video: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17682244

Remembering Little Ricky

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/rick-santorum-best-of-video.php
The ultimate Santorum wrap-up/mashup video reel.

But seriously: http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/10/11123870-santorum-stands-down
[I]n a strange sort of way, I consider the Santorum campaign one of the most impressive things I've seen in presidential politics in quite a while. . . . [read on]

Come back, Barney, come back!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/barney-frank-unloads-on-the-great-scam-of-paul-ryan.php
Labeling the House-passed GOP budget a “great scam,” Frank cited its military spending hikes from current law levels as evidence that Ryan’s primary goal isn’t deficit reduction. He also cited Ryan’s refusal to specify which tax loopholes he’ll close as evidence of trickery.

“It’s not deficit reduction when you increase military spending so that you can make up for that by cutting Medicare and Medicaid. That’s not budget reduction. That’s ideology. . . .” [read on]

Innocent until proven guilty, of course: but I’m glad to see this

http://pamshouseblend.firedoglake.com/2012/04/11/george-zimmerman-charged-with-2nd-degree-murder-of-trayvon-martin-and-is-in-custody/
George Zimmerman charged with 2nd-degree murder of Trayvon Martin – and is in custody

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_04/zimmerman_to_face_state_maybe036621.php
Zimmerman To Face State, Maybe Federal Charges

http://www.emptywheel.net/2012/04/11/what-zimmermans-charge-means/
What Zimmerman’s Charge Means (Or Doesn’t)

http://www.emptywheel.net/2012/04/11/why-florida-is-charging-zimmerman-directly-instead-of-by-grand-jury/
Why Florida Is Charging Zimmerman Directly Instead Of By Grand Jury

The lousy state of economics journalism, even at CNBC

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/cnbc-anchor-whiffs-on-obama-budget-in-white-house-interview.php

I really don’t know why Democrats even bother to GO on Fox News

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/neil-cavuto-talks-over-rep-lynn-woolsey-sh

Bonus item: Fox News “mole” revealed

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/gawkers-fox-mole-joe-muto.html

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/11/11138756-the-fox-mole-starts-sharing

More: http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/how-to-get-fired-from-fox-news-really-quickly.html

http://firedoglake.com/2012/04/12/the-ring-is-closing-maybe/

***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 OTHER PEOPLE

http://www.salon.com/2012/04/10/the_biggest_gender_gap_ever/
The biggest gender gap ever

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/10/1082201/-Yup-That-gender-gap-is-real-19-20-points-real

http://prospect.org/article/romney-owns-war-women

Romney tries to recapture female approval, with a lie

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/romney-champion-for-women.html




Herman Cain explains the gap

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/who-are-these-other-people-besides-men.html



Bye, now go away

http://www.salon.com/2012/04/10/the_end_of_the_santorum_campaign/
The end of the Santorum campaign

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/04/rick_santorum_leaves_the_race_mitt_romney_had_already_won_.html
Rick Santorum has left the Republican presidential race, ending the most successful run by an improbable GOP candidate since publisher Steve Forbes' run in 1996. At the start of the presidential campaign, few in political circles would have predicted that a senator who had lost his last race by 17 points, who had no money, no pollster, and few endorsements, would win 11 contests. . .

More: http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/10/11123870-santorum-stands-down

http://prospect.org/article/rick-santorum-finally-calls-it-quits

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_04/santorum_folds_1036595.php

http://prospect.org/article/exit-right

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/santorum-legacy.html
The Santorum Legacy

Looks like he knows where this case is going to be tried

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/04/fool_for_a_client.php
George Zimmerman’s lawyers bow out of the case after he — among other things — stopped talking to them and starting talking to Sean Hannity. . .

http://firedoglake.com/2012/04/11/americas-go-to-guy-for-racism/

More: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/04/things_get_weird.php

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/george-zimmermans-lawyer-has-fool-client

http://twitter.com/#!/keithboykin/status/189854933439365120/photo/1
Ironically, while Zimmerman was avoiding his lawyers today, he did find time to update his website.

Bonus item: a “mole” at Fox News?

http://crooksandliars.com/blue-texan/should-be-fun-gawker-hires-mole-fox-new

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_04/foxs_greasy_spoon036599.php

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

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

THERE, THERE, LITTLE MISSY

All hands on deck! GOPers work overtime to erase the memory of their war against women

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/republicans-try-to-disappear-their-contraception-wars.php
Congressional Republicans abandoned their push to roll back the Obama administration’s contraception guarantee for female employees weeks ago. But now they’re hoping that they can wipe the crux of what Democrats have termed the GOP “war on women” off the books entirely. . . .

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/09/11103661-the-rncs-war-on-metaphors
But the RNC spokesperson is just pushing his luck when he says the "war" metaphor itself is offensive, bordering on "unpatriotic." As Rachel noted on the show the other day, this is the same Republican National Committee that's complained about Democrats waging a "war on Appalachia," a "war on coal," and launching a "trade war with Mexico." . . .

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/09/1081931/-Mitch-McConnell-insists-lady-Republicans-don-t-see-any-evidence-of-War-on-Women

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/09/11103148-mitch-mcconnell-call-your-caucus

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/war-on-women-huh-what-war-on-women.html

Romney seems “inevitable,” but a majority of Republican superdelegates are still keeping their options open

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/09/1081847/-Republican-super-delegates-sure-have-a-funny-way-of-saying-it-s-over

A contested convention? http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/02/santorum-says-contested-convention-could-benefit-g-o-p/

A tale of two campaigns

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/poll-obama-more-likable-friendly-than-romney.html
Poll: Obama Much More Friendly and Likable Than Romney

More: http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/obama-romney-confidence-gap.html
The Obama-Romney Confidence Gap

Wonky

http://prospect.org/article/washington-we-have-revenue-problem
This piece is the first in a six-part series on taxation . . .

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/wonkbook-is-industrial-policy-back/2012/04/09/gIQAHL7i5S_blog.html
Is industrial policy back?

ALEC exposed

http://crooksandliars.com/kenneth-quinnell/progressive-information-project-a

Eric Cantor, the young Cassius of the GOP, is in trouble now

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/09/11100577-why-cantors-in-the-gop-doghouse

Glenn Beck’s megalomania

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/09/1081925/-Glenn-Beck-to-give-speeches-from-his-own-Oval-Office-

More: http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/driving-to-the-tv-studio-is-for-peons.html

Bonus item: SNL takes on the Big Phony

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/mitt-romney-campaign-cold-open/1395369

***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.***

THEIR TERRORISTS, AND OUR TERRORISTS

Who is M.E.K.?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/08/1080702/-Open-thread-for-night-owls-Covert-action-in-Iran-has-M-E-K-fingerprints

http://www.emptywheel.net/2012/04/06/doe-washing-terrorists-in-the-nevada-desert/

More: http://www.salon.com/2012/04/06/report_us_trained_terror_group/
Report: U.S. trained terror group

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/eight_former_us_officials_will.php
Former Officials To Appear At D.C. Event On Behalf Of ‘Terrorist’ Group

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/romney_advisor_mitchell_reiss_backs_mek.php
Romney Advisor Mitchell Reiss Backs ‘Terrorist’ Group, Jokes About Being ‘Potential Criminal’

Droning on, and on, and on. . .

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/worst-idea-in-history-or-just-last.html
American scientists have drawn up plans for a new generation of nuclear-powered drones capable of flying over remote regions of the world for months on end without refuelling. . . . [read on]

“Embarrass the future”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/how-john-roberts-could-uphold-obamacare.php

How politics is done today

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/09/us/politics/major-republican-super-pac-prepares-to-take-on-obama.html
American Crossroads, the biggest of the Republican “super PACs,” is planning to begin its first major anti-Obama advertising blitz of the year . . .

More: http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/republican-super-pac-preparing-obama-onslaught.html

Heh

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/04/08/what_if_no_one_wants_to_be_romneys_running_mate.html
What if No One Wants to be Romney's Running Mate?

Does it matter? http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/how-much-do-the-veepstakes-matter-mondays-trail-mix/2012/04/09/gIQAFuUR5S_blog.html

http://mydd.com/users/inoljt/posts/thinking-about-romneys-southern-problem
Romney’s Southern Problem

This is a big deal, for the theocrats

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/rick-warrens-not-willing-call-mitt-ro
Rick Warren's Not Willing To Call Mitt Romney a Christian

More from the theocrats: rewriting Christianity to fit contemporary conservative ideology

http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2012/04/08/jesus-of-galts-gulch-2/

Well, there’s racist, and then there’s TOO racist

http://www.americablog.com/2012/04/national-review-fires-contributor-after.html
It's no wonder the GOP has a major problem with the issue of race when you hear this. Surely John Derbyshire did not just wake up, write this offensive column and it was the birth of his racism. The National Review had to know him since he wrote there often enough but they failed to take action because his racism was not that far off from mainstream conservative views.

Isn't it rather odd that the National Review's editor praised Derbyshire at the same time as he fired him? If only Derbyshire could keep his racist rants within acceptable limits, perhaps? Very strange. . . . [read on]

More: http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/john-derbyshire-finally-fired-from-the-national-review.html

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/07/11072002-pushing-the-envelope-to-the-breaking-point

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/national-reviews-john-derbyshire-pens-raci

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/07/1081578/-National-Review-cans-racist-writer

***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.***

IT’S A BIG WORLD

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/07/us/politics/obama-embraces-national-security-as-campaign-issue.html
[T]he Obama campaign is seeking to portray Mitt Romney, the likely Republican nominee, as a national security neophyte whose best ideas are simply retreads of what the president is already doing, and whose worst instincts would take the country back to the days of President George W. Bush . . .

Old buddies: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/us/politics/mitt-romney-and-benjamin-netanyahu-are-old-friends.html
The two young men had woefully little in common: one was a wealthy Mormon from Michigan, the other a middle-class Jew from Israel.

But in 1976, the lives of Mitt Romney and Benjamin Netanyahu intersected, briefly but indelibly, in the 16th-floor offices of the Boston Consulting Group, where both had been recruited as corporate advisers. At the most formative time of their careers, they sized each other up during the firm’s weekly brainstorming sessions, absorbing the same profoundly analytical view of the world.

That shared experience decades ago led to a warm friendship, little known to outsiders, that is now rich with political intrigue. Mr. Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, is making the case for military action against Iran as Mr. Romney, the likely Republican presidential nominee, is attacking the Obama administration for not supporting Mr. Netanyahu more robustly. . . .

He is what he is

http://prospect.org/article/sorry-republicans-mitt-romney-just-weak-he-looks
Sorry Republicans, Mitt Romney Is Just as Weak as He Looks

Oops!

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/eric-cantor-is-in-trouble-for-donating-to-a-super-pac.html
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's hair may be full of secrets, but it was unable to contain the fact that he recently donated $25,000 to a Super PAC "devoted to defeating incumbent House members," including some of his fellow Republicans. Cantor is reportedly spending his holiday weekend attempting to soothe hurt feelings . . .

Is HE still around?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/with-prospects-fading-newt-gingrich-resolves-to-keep-running/2012/04/07/gIQAgraT2S_story.html
Why is Newt Gingrich still running?

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/04/gingrich-health-care-think-tank-files-for-bankruptcy.html
Gingrich Health-Care Think Tank Files for Bankruptcy

Is SHE still around?

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/bachmann-calls-obama-health-care-dictator-ov
Bachmann Calls Obama a 'Health Care Dictator'

On Wisconsin

http://crooksandliars.com/kenneth-quinnell/scott-walker-ramps-extremism
Scott Walker Ramps Up the Extremism

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/06/1081265/-Scott-Walker-hopes-you-won-t-notice-he-repealed-Wisconsin-s-equal-pay-law

We’ve had a lot here on Wisconsin – but what’s happening in Michigan?

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/michigan-republicans-illegally-pass
This report from Rachel Maddow this Thursday was really shocking. I knew things were bad in Michigan after watching some of her previous coverage on these so-called emergency managers circumventing democracy in their state, but not this bad. . . . [read on]

More: http://news.firedoglake.com/2012/04/06/republican-calvinball-comes-to-michigan/

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/04/michigan-republicans-blowing-up-norm-politics

The Sunday talk show line-ups

http://firedoglake.com/2012/04/08/sunday-talking-heads-april-8-2012/
ABC’s This Week: Rick and Kay Warren. Roundtable: George Will, Yahoo News Washington bureau chief David Chalian, author and Georgetown University professor Michael Eric Dyson, Thomson Reuters Digital editor Chrystia Freeland, Peggy Noonan.

CBS’ Face the Nation: Cardinal-Archbishop Timothy Dolan. Roundtable: Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, Rabbi David Wolpe, of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, Rev. Luis Cortes, Jr. of Esperanza USA, Sally Quinn, Andrew Sullivan.

CNN’s State of the Union: DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL). Pollsters Mark Penn and Linda DiVall. Former Solicitor General Ken Starr and Former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal. Roundtable: Ralph Reed, founder and Chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), a United Methodist Church pastor, and David Brody, Chief Political Correspondent for the Christian Broadcasting Network.

NBC’s Meet the Press: Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gov. John Kasich (R-OH). Roundtable: Archbishop-designate of Baltimore William Lori; daughter of Billy Graham, Anne Graham Lotz; United Methodist Pastor Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO); member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID); and Executive Editor at Random House, as well as author of “American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation,” Jon Meacham.

Bonus item: Text messages from Hillary

http://www.americablog.com/2012/04/texts-from-hillary-clinton-funny.html

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