Monday, June 24, 2013

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS EDWARD SNOWDEN?

 Venezuela? Ecuador?

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/hong-kong-snowden-has-left-for-a-third-country.php
HONG KONG: SNOWDEN HAS LEFT FOR A ‘THIRD COUNTRY’

http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2013/06/23/wikileaks-helps-snowden-leave-hong-kong/

More: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/edward-snowden-flees-hong-kong-venezuela-rus

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/ecuador-foreign-minister-snowden-asked-ecuador-for-asylum

Obama to make big announcement on climate change next week

http://occupyamerica.crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/obama-moving-climate-change#sthash.2QwmNSMH.dpbs

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/23/obama-is-announcing-new-climate-actions-tuesday-this-chart-explains-why/

He said it

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/sen-graham-on-immigration-gop-will-be-blamed 
Sen. Graham On Immigration: GOP Will Be Blamed For Its Failure 

More: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/graham-immigration-bill-practically-militari 
Graham: Immigration Bill 'Practically Militarized the Border'  

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gops-divide-on-immigration-best-explained-by-two-senators-named-jeff/2013/06/23/02748dc0-d2a7-11e2-9f1a-1a7cdee20287_story.html
GOP’s divide on immigration best explained by two senators named Jeff

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/06/23/schumer_predicts_mass_protests_if_gop_blocks_immigration_bill.html
Schumer Predicts Mass Protests if GOP Blocks Immigration Bill

 In case you missed the Sunday talk shows 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/23/sunday-morning-liveblog_n_3486578.html 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/06/23/sunday-show-roundup-whats-next-for-edward-snowden/ 

Bonus item: Do you agree? 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/23/voters-dont-care-how-women-in-politics-look/
Voters don’t care how women in politics look

***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.***
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Sunday, June 23, 2013

TRIAL AND ERROR

It's not surprising that the US filed charges against Edward Snowden for espionage. Now the real mess starts 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/23/world/asia/arrest-of-nsa-leaker-seen-as-easier-than-transfer-to-us.html
The request by the Justice Department that Hong Kong detain Edward J. Snowden before it seeks his return to face espionage and theft charges in the United States is likely to set off a tangled and protracted fight over his fate . . .

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jun/22/snowden-espionage-charges

http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2013/06/22/obama-builds-off-legacy-of-reagan-by-charging-leakers-like-snowden-under-espionage-act/

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/this-really-is-big-brother-leak-nobodys.html

 http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1266777/exclusive-snowden-safe-hong-kong-more-us-cyberspying-details-revealed 

Would the current powers of NSA surveillance have prevented 9/11? 

http://occupyamerica.crooksandliars.com/propublica/fact-check-nsa-and-sept-11 

Ah, this is how it is done. Steny Hoyer calls out Eric Cantor's confused, pathetic attempt to blame the Democrats for why a farm bill couldn't pass the Republican-controlled House 

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/hoyer-takes-cantor-woodshed-after-farm-bil 

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_06/an_invitation_to_cruelty045421.php 

The GOP is at war with itself. Grab some popcorn 

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/conservatives-hate-democracy-so-much.html
Georgia Republicans are weighing an election shift that could reshape the state’s political landscape by giving grass-roots activists tremendous new clout in picking the party’s nominee. . . [read on]

More: http://news.yahoo.com/gop-basic-strategy-2016-looks-deeply-unsettled-125508316.html
GOP basic strategy for 2016 looks deeply unsettled

The comic version

http://firedoglake.com/2013/06/22/john-boehner-is-not-pining-for-the-fjords/
Honest to God, the goings-on in DC are going to drive the Comedy Channel out of business. . . . 

"How Republicans stopped worrying and learned to love big government" 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/21/how-republicans-stopped-worrying-and-learned-to-love-big-government/ 

Pity the poor Romneys 

http://news.yahoo.com/remember-mitt-romneys-proposed-garage-elevator-back-190308861.html
Ann Romney, a first lady hopeful roughly a half year ago, stepped to a microphone this week in San Diego in a different kind of forum from the ones to which she grew accustomed during the 2012 presidential contest. She said nothing about the power of female voters or restoring faith in government. Instead, she had a bone to pick with city officials. . . [read on] 

Making Paula Deen the victim? 

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_06/well_shut_my_mouth045422.php

The Sunday talk show line-ups

http://firedoglake.com/2013/06/23/sunday-talking-heads-june-23-2013/
ABC’S THIS WEEK:  National Security Agency Director Gen. Keith Alexander.  Foreign Policy Roundtable:  Martha Raddatz, Richard Haass, Dan Senor.  Roundtable:  Rep. JoaquĆ­n Castro (D-TX), Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Rebecca Jarvis, Steven Rattner, Amity Shlaes.  Sunday Spotlight: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Iraq War veteran, discusses the role of women in combat.
CBS’ FACE THE NATION:  Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN).  Then, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL).  Also, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).  Syria/Afghanistan update from Clarissa Ward.  Roundtable: John Dickerson, Gerald Seib, Susan Page, Bobby Ghosh.
CNN’S STATE OF THE UNION:  Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Then, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).  Roundtable: Dan Balz, Dana Bash, Stephanie Cutter, Kevin Madden.
CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS" -- Foreign policy panel: Anne-Marie Slaughter and Richard Haass, both former directors of policy planning at the State Department, and Bret Stephens, the foreign affairs columnist and deputy editor of the editorial page at The Wall Street Journal. Neil Gershenfeld, director of MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms, and Niall Ferguson, a professor at Harvard University.
KORNACKI’S UP: Immigration, SCOTUS preview.
Christina Bellantoni, politics editor, PBS NewsHour (@cbellantoni)
Raul Reyes, contributor, NBCLatino.com, columnist, USA Today (@RaulAReyes) Robert Costa, Washington editor, National Review (@robertcostaNRO) Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, (D) New York (@RepJeffries) Ana Marie Cox, political columnist, The Guardian (@anamariecox) Chris Geidner, legal & senior political reporter, BuzzFeed.com (@chrisgeidner) Garance Franke-Ruta, senior editor, The Atlantic (@thegarance)
MOYERS & COMPANY:  United States of ALEC — A Follow-Up.  Get updated on the secretive scheme to remake America by changing its laws, one state house at a time.
NBC’S MEET THE PRESS:  Immigration. Assistant Democratic Leader Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL); Ranking member of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee and immigration “Gang of 8” member, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK); Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI); and  Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA).   Roundtable:  Robert Gibbs, Mike Murphy, Democratic Mayor of Atlanta Kasim Reed, Carly Fiorina, Chuck Todd.
 

Bonus item: Quitter
http://bluemassgroup.com/2013/06/joke-revue-gops-transport-of-women-by-the-hair-act/ 
“Sarah Palin has been hired back by Fox News, and she only left five months ago. She has now effectively quit quitting. She can’t even commit to being uncommitted.” –John Oliver



***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.***
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Saturday, June 22, 2013

NO THERE THERE
The House GOP revolts: John Boehner officially has no control over his caucus

In denial

http://www.nationaljournal.com//columns/cook-report/republicans-face-a-choice-expand-or-expire-20130620
Conservatives who think their party can prosper by opposing immigration reform are kidding themselves.


Chuck Schumer's smart move to put big pressure on the GOP to pass immigration reform


John Boehner's right, Hoover Dam couldn't be built today under Obama -- because the Republicans would block every effort to pay for it, no matter the benefits it would bring


http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/06/21/19076542-boehner-reflects-on-the-hoover-dam

A primer on NSA surveillance

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/06/quick-recap-nsas-ability-spy-americans

 The Supreme Court is holding back its biggest decisions: but what they HAVE released is pretty important too

 http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_06/too_darn_bad045406.php

 More: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/06/21/what-s-taking-the-supreme-court-so-long.html

 The significance of James Comey's nomination to be head of the FBI

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/06/21/19075000-the-subtext-behind-comeys-fbi-nomination 

Progress, in a fashion

 http://occupyamerica.crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/gay-cure-group-closes-doors-says-sorry

Although they still believe homosexuality to be a sin, leaders of a Christian organization whose mission had been to turn gays into straights have changed their stance and are saying sorry. . . .

Bonus item: I don't really care about the racial attitudes of a Food Network "star," but this is definitely a lesson in how NOT to do damage control

 http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/06/paula-deen-racial.php
“Well what I would really like is a bunch of little niggers to wear long-sleeve white shirts, black shorts and black bow ties, you know in the Shirley Temple days, they used to tap dance around,” the lawsuit claims Deen said. “Now that would be a true southern wedding, wouldn’t it? But we can’t do that because the media would be on me about that.” . . . [read on]

 http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/06/paula-deen-sambo-burger.php
When Paula Deen Tried To Cook A ‘Sambo Burger’

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/06/the_non-complexities_of_pretty_racist_chef_paula_d.php 
I must say. I love Paula Deen’s defense. It has the benefit of being both ridiculous and perhaps something her critics could actually agree about. According to the Wall Street Journal, “A representative for Paula Deen says that the 66-year-old celebrity chef used the “N-word” because she has roots in another era.” Or as you might translate this, ‘Look, she’s on the old side and pretty racist.’ Which sounds about right and sort of like the criticism rather than the defense . . .

 TWO apology videos: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/06/watch-both-of-paula-deens-apology-videos.php

The WORST defense on her behalf: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/06/to_paulas_defense.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.***
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Friday, June 21, 2013

A MAJORITY OF THE MAJORITY

The problem with the "Hastert Rule" is that the Republican House majority CAN'T pass anything (except symbolic ideological crap like the abortion bill)

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/house-votes-down-farm-bill-that-would-cut-food-stamps-by-2-billion.php 
The House has rejected a five year, half-trillion-dollar farm bill that would have cut $2 billion annually from food stamps and let states impose broad new work requirements on those who receive them. Those cuts weren’t deep enough for many Republicans . . . 

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/06/20/19060457-house-kills-its-own-farm-bill
From a progressive perspective, it's hard to shed tears over the bill's demise . . .
 
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/pelosi-gops-farm-bill-failure-is-amateur-hour
Pelosi: GOP’s Farm Bill Failure Is ‘Major Amateur Hour’

Next up: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/06/21/three-signs-of-trouble-for-immigration-reform-in-the-house/
Three signs of trouble for immigration reform in the House

http://prospect.org/article/republican-reform-problem
The Republican Reform Problem

 All fingers pointed at . . . John Boehner

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/21/1217705/-Abbreviated-pundit-roundup-John-Boehner-s-very-bad-day

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/06/20/farm-bill-debacle-shows-john-boehner-needs-nancy-pelosi/

 This takes chutzpah: after saying that the House majority doesn't want to pass bills with Democratic support, the GOP leadership whines that the failure of the farm bill is the Dems' fault

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/20/1217576/-Eric-Cantor-dumbsplains-how-Nancy-Pelosi-is-totally-to-blame-for-defeating-food-stamp-cut

 More: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/06/20/19061086-cantor-plays-the-blame-game-poorly

 News

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/20/fisa-court-nsa-without-warrant
Revealed: the top secret rules that allow NSA to use US data without a warrant

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/20/the-fisa-court-is-acting-like-a-legislature-and-thats-a-problem

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/06/heres-how-nsa-decides-who-it-can-spy

 "I will be a good American" (a must-read)

 http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/i-will-be-good-american.html

 Not a joke

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/06/kkk_radiation_gun.php
Behind A Klansman’s Plan To Kill Muslims With A Radiation Death Beam

Bonus item: Follow-up from yesterday -- sometimes actions DO have consequences

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/20/1217561/-Illinois-GOP-official-resigns-after-racist-sexist-screed-against-Republican-candidate
Illinois GOP official resigns after racist, sexist screed against Republican candidate

***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.***
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Thursday, June 20, 2013

REFORMING THE NSA

Guidelines for NSA reform

http://prospect.org/article/three-guiding-principles-nsa-reform

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/19/the-nsas-secrecy-is-bad-for-the-nsa/
 
The lack of oversight: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/06/snowden-revelations-cast-new-doubts-on-intelligence-oversight-process.php

The Republicans just can't stop offending immigrants

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/19/1217273/-Republican-rebranding-fail-continued-Congressman-calls-immigrants-takers-at-anti-reform-rally
Congressman calls immigrants 'takers' at anti-reform rally

 http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/beck-immigrants-learned-klan-they-are-just-c
Conservative radio host Glenn Beck told Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) on Tuesday that immigrant activists have the "same ideology" as the Ku Klux Klan but they "are just changing their hood." . . .

 http://prospect.org/article/broken-english-requirements
Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, has proposed an amendment to the current Gang of Eight immigration bill requiring English proficiency in order to obtain a green card. . . .

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/19/its-almost-as-if-jeff-sessions-opposition-to-immigration-reform-isnt-about-the-poor-at-all/

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/06/19/ted-cruz-oppose-immigration-reform-in-name-of-our-humanity/

 WWJBD?

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/06/19/19041012-watching-boehner-shift-with-the-winds 
Watching Boehner shift with the winds

No, there really isn't a consensus within the GOP on the need for "rebranding"

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_06/the_rebranding_triage045357.php

 E.W. knows his role, I guess 

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/virginia-lt-gov-candidate-says-government-social-programs
The Virginia GOP's nominee for lieutenant governor, E.W. Jackson, gave a speech Wednesday in which he claimed government social programs have done more harm to the "black family" than slavery. . . .

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/19/1216881/-Today-in-E-W-Jackson-news-Stop-persecuting-E-W-Jackson-and-do-what-he-says 

This won't shock you, I hope

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/06/mcconnell-filibuster-nuclear-option-2005.php 
McConnell Sings Very Different Tune On Nuclear Option Than In 2005

In Fox World: Sean Hannity denies he said what he said

 http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/hannity-i-never-suggested-obama-was-muslim 
Hannity: I Never Suggested Obama Was Muslim

So easy: http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/03/21/while-denying-foxs-role-hannity-fuels-obama-mus/186387

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=astY6xIKJuA

Bonus item: The kind of people they are

 http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/06/19/gop_official_launches_racist_attack_on_black_gop_candidate.html
Illinois GOP county chairman Jim Allen called a black female congressional candidate the "love child" of the Democratic party; a "street walker" whose "pimps" are party leaders; and suggested that after the election, she will be "working for some law firm that needs to meet their quota for minority hires," the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The candidate is Erika Harold, the former Miss America and Harvard Law grad who is seeking the Republican nomination for the 13th congressional district.

***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.***
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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

BLUFFING? 

Immigration reform on life support

http://prospect.org/article/boehner-ultimatum
Sometimes it's hard to tell which Republicans in Congress fear more: immigration reform passing, or immigration reform not passing. . . . 

More: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/06/no_help_there_1.php
House Republicans appear to be coalescing around an attempt to kill immigration reform. . . .

 http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/06/18/19023617-boehner-posture-weakens-prospects-for-immigration-reform

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/06/18/john-boehner-is-bluffing/

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/18/is-boehner-bluffing-on-the-hastert-rule-even-he-doesnt-know/

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/06/john-boehner-bluffing-immigration-reform

 http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/immigration-debate-cue-national-id-scary-mu

I love this. Chief Republican scandal manager Darrell Issa has been selectively leaking emails to juice the IRS "scandal" along. But he is outraged -- OUTRAGED -- when Democratic committee members release the full transcript to show what the emails actually prove

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/06/18/breaking-full-house-committee-transcripts-shed-new-light-on-genesis-of-irs-targeting/
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have just released a full transcript of testimony from a key witness in the investigation of IRS targeting of conservatives — and it appears to confirm that the initial targeting did originate with a low-level employee in the Cincinnati office.

It also shows a key witness and IRS screening manager – a self described conservative Republican — denying any communication with the White House or senior IRS officials about the targeting. . . [read on]

 Full text: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/full-transcript-of-congressional-interview-with-irs-manager-released/2013/06/18/2ad87b58-d858-11e2-a9f2-42ee3912ae0e_story.html

 Issa: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/issa-deeply-disappointed-about-release-of-irs-testimony
Issa “Deeply Disappointed” About Release Of IRS Testimony Transcript

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/18/1216983/-Issa-continues-playing-games-with-leaks-of-cherry-picked-IRS-interview-excerpts
Issa continues playing games . . .

 http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/06/18/19022925-the-game-issa-loves-to-play
The game Issa loves to play

On "scandals"

http://crooksandliars.com/paul-rosenberg/less-facts-favor-gop-more-scandal-n

 In Fox World: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/fox-panel-pretends-obama-taking-responsibi

 A matter of priorities: House GOP passes a super-restrictive abortion bill just to placate their base. It has no chance of becoming law

 http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/06/house-passes-twenty-week-abortion-ban.php

 More on rape: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/18/1217059/-Non-sequitor-alert-Top-House-Republican-says-GOP-abortion-ban-bill-aimed-at-putting-rapists-in-jail

 Call his bluff

 http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/06/mcconnell-reid-nuclear-option-filibuster.php
McConnell To Reid: If You Go Nuclear On Nominations, I’ll Go Nuclear On Everything When I’m Majority Leader

Bobby Jindal has some great advice for his party

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_06/okay_enough_thinking045321.php
Well, you gotta say, that Bobby Jindal’s not afraid to change his tune. Back in January, he thrilled Beltway observers by telling Republicans to stop being the “stupid party.” Now he’s telling them to stop thinking . . [read on]

 More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_06/we_have_met_the_enemy_and_he_i_1045340.php
 

Sean Hannity "explains" his hypocrisy

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/18/1217072/-Hannity-s-lame-justification-for-partisan-nbsp-hypocrisy

 Bonus item: Jack Lew's signature appears on new bills

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/18/jack-lews-new-signature-unveiled/

***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.***
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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

WHO GETS TO VOTE?

 The Supreme Court blocks voter-suppression tactics, and Ted Cruz rushes to re-establish them in law

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/06/17/ted-cruz-promises-amendment-to-overturn-scotus-ruling

 More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/06/ted-cruz-voter-id-immigration-amendment.php

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/17/the-supreme-courts-decision-on-arizona-wont-put-an-end-to-voting-wars/

 The Republicans still can't figure out what they want to do on immigration reform

 http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_06/raising_the_stakes_on_immigrat045301.php

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/17/1216818/-Boehner-s-immigrant-conundrum

 But they do have a strategy on health care reform

 http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/06/17/19007068-congressional-republicans-face-a-health-care-conundrum
Whenever a major reform initiative becomes law, minor tweaks and technical fixes are simply unavoidable. Within a couple of years of Social Security passing, Congress had opened the law back up, identified changes that needed to be made, and made adjustments accordingly. The same is true of Medicare. Washington has worked this way for generations.

 And it would be true of the Affordable Care Act, too, if Congress was still able to function. Democrats and Republicans have identified some areas of the law that need tweaking in order to help various constituencies and make the law more effective, but therein lies the rub: GOP lawmakers have decided that "Obamacare" cannot be touched in any way. Indeed, the more policymakers identify the need for adjustments, the more Republicans resist.

 It's not because GOP officials love the law the way it is; it's because GOP officials desperately hope to sabotage the law and ensure its failure. If Democrats identify worthwhile tweaks, and those changes aren't made, Republicans are delighted -- it means a less-effective law. . . . [read on] 

 A "debate," of sorts

 http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/06/obama-and-snowden-debate-nsa-surveillance-programs.php 
FACEOFF: Obama And Snowden ‘Debate’ NSA Surveillance Programs

 Now it's official

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/06/there-are-46-guant%C3%A1namo-detainees-who-will-never-be-tried-and-never-be-released
There are 46 GuantƔnamo Detainees Who Will Never Be Tried and Never Be Released

 GOP Congressman: fetuses masturbate

 http://americablog.com/2013/06/gop-congressman-opposes-abortion-because-fetuses-masturbate.html 
"This is a subject that I do know something about . . ."  

The "Gang of Eight" tries to get Fox News on board with immigration reform  

 http://prospect.org/article/gang-8-lobbies-fox-news
This shows Fox not as a journalistic organization making news judgments, but as a group that gets targeted for (and responds to) lobbying, much in the same way as Congress. It also shows how attuned powerful Republicans are to what is being discussed on Fox. . . . [read on]

 Bonus item: OK, it's a little mean, but here's Miss Utah explaining gender inequality in income

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/17/1216764/-Open-thread-The-pay-inequality-and-such-as

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