PBD - Progressive Blog Digest

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

TESTOSTERONE BOOSTERS

They love to talk about "manliness"

http://prospect.org/article/manly-men-condemn-obamas-lack-manliness
Manly Men Condemn Obama's Lack of Manliness

More: http://crooksandliars.com/2014/04/david-brooks-says-obama-has-manhood

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/big-swinging-manhood.html

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/foreign-policy-and-the-definition

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/22/the-gop-s-limp-emasculate-obama-ploy.html

Targeted assassinations aren't a new invention of US foreign policy -- but drones have moved them to a new level. Now people want to see the justification

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/appeals-court-release-targeted-killings-memo

Koch addiction

http://www.salon.com/2014/04/21/the_koch_brothers_are_going_after_solar_panels/
The Koch brothers are going after solar panels

More: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/kochs-conservative-allies-align-against

Your daily Christie

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/04/21/1293599/-Christie-legal-bills-put-campaign-in-debt
Christie legal bills put campaign in debt

They shot the sheriff

http://www.salon.com/2014/04/21/tea_party_hero_louie_gohmert_wants_to_arrest_eric_holder/
Tea Party hero Louie Gohmert wants to arrest Eric Holder

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/16/blake-farenthold-eric-holder-paycheck_n_5161891.html
Blake Farenthold Introduces Bill To Withhold Eric Holder's Paycheck

When people tell you "government programs don't work"

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2014/04/the_top_dozen_federal_government_programs_in_history.html

Bad news for Rick Perry

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/grand-jury-probe-could-ruin-perry-s-prospects
Grand Jury Investigation Could Ruin Rick Perry's Prospects

In Fox World

http://www.salon.com/2014/04/21/6_worst_right_wing_moments_of_the_week_fox_news_3s_the_race_card_partner/

Bonus item: The winner!

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2014/04/21/most_negative_political_ad_ever.html
Most Negative Political Ad Ever?

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

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Monday, April 21, 2014

TAX SEMINAR

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/04/20/1292876/-The-real-IRS-scandal-that-s-costing-Uncle-Sam-trillions
The real IRS scandal that's costing Uncle Sam trillions

http://www.vox.com/2014/4/20/5629904/study-tax-hikes-could-grow-the-economy
Study: tax hikes could grow the economy

Killing the Common Core

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/21/the-incredibly-stupid-war-on-the-common-core.html

An unholy alliance between the Tea Party and the teachers’ unions threatens to derail the most promising education reform in decades.

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/20/us/politics/republicans-see-political-wedge-in-common-core.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

On liberal plutocracy

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_04/mustread_of_the_day_tom_frank049978.php

CNN goes beyond ridiculous

http://www.salon.com/2014/04/20/cnn_asks_can_the_klan_rebrand/

CNN asks: “Can the Klan rebrand?”

More: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/04/cnn-can-kkk-improve-its-marketing-strategies.html

In Fox World

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/04/fox-conspiracy-theory-hillary-too-old-runHillary Is 'Too Old' To Run So She 'Planned' Chelsea's Pregnancy

In case you missed the Sunday talk shows

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/04/20/missed-the-sunday-shows-we-have-you-covered/?wprss=rss_politics&clsrd

Bonus item: "Ignore age—define generations by the tech they use"

http://www.vox.com/2014/4/20/5624018/should-technology-define-generations

Sunday, April 20, 2014

LOFOTEN, NORWAY

Just because I like it. Happy Easter!

https://twitter.com/BestEarthPix/status/457286955429269504/photo/1

Are climate change deniers winning?

http://www.salon.com/2014/04/19/why_climate_deniers_are_winning_the_twisted_psychology_that_overwhelms_scientific_consensus/

More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-longer-we-wait-to-act-on-climate.html

Reaganomics and the end of the middle class

http://www.salon.com/2014/04/19/reaganomics_killed_americas_middle_class_partner/

Sunday's good news: domestic violence is on the decline

http://www.vox.com/2014/4/19/5628454/were-keeping-domestic-violence-low-we-could-be-doing-more

Republicans and state secession

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dana-milbank-secession-a-tournament-for-gop/2014/04/18/c8d08108-c712-11e3-9f37-7ce307c56815_story.html

Koch addiction

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/04/oligarchy-defined-koch-brothers-worth-100

How oil companies are circumventing US sanctions against Russia

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/04/are-oil-companies-cutting-deals-putin

Darwin's mistake

http://www.salon.com/2014/04/19/charles_darwins_tragic_error_hitler_evolution_racism_and_the_holocaust/

The confluence of the Tea Party and talk radio

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/04/incestuous-relationship-tea-party-groups

The Sunday talk show line-ups

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/04/sunday-morning-bobblehead-thread-1
ABC's "This Week" — Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas; former New York City police commissioner Ray Kelly; retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. Political roundtable; Democratic strategist Donna Brazile, CNN “Crossfire” co-host S.E. Cupp, ABC News contributor and Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol, and ABC News Senior Washington Correspondent Jeff Zeleny. Easter roundtable: the Rev. Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; Dr. Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition and author of the new book, “Awakening”; and ABC News’ Cokie Roberts.

NBC's "Meet the Press" — Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Ukraine's prime minister; Sens. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn.; Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. Chuck Todd, NBC News Political Director & Chief White House Correspondent; David Brooks, New York Times Columnist; Radhika Jones, TIME Deputy Managing Editor; David Shribman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Executive Editor.

CBS' "Face the Nation" — Gov. Deval Patrick, D-Mass.; Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York. Panel: Peggy Noonan of The Wall Street Journal, David Ignatius of The Washington Post, Michael Duffy of Time, and CBS News Political Director John Dickerson.

MSNBC's "UP with Steve Kornacki" -- Fmr. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA); Dahlia Lithwick, Slate; Blake Zeff, politics editor; Haley Adams, Founder, Yale Students for Hillary; Mark Glaze, Director, Mayors Against Illegal Guns; Basil Smikle, democratic strategist; Raul Reyes, USA Today; Josh Barro, New York Times; Pia Carusone, executive director, Americans for Responsible Solutions; Nick Acocella, writer, editor, publisher PolitiFax; Brian Thompson, New Jersey reporter WNBC.

MSNBC's "Melissa Harris-Perry" -- Rob Breymaier, Executive Director of the Oak Park Regional Housing Center; Tanner Colby, Author of “Some of My Best Friends Are Black”; Ron Christie, Columnist at the Daily Beast / Former Special Assistant to President G.W. Bush; Dorothy Brown, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law at Emory University; James Perry, Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center; Julian Marshall, Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Minnesota; Julian Zelizer, Author of Governing America / Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University; Tara Dowdell, Democratic Strategist; Karen Finney, Host of MSNBC’s Disrupt; Heather Hlavka, Assistant Professor of Social and Cultural Sciences at Marquette University; Pearl Cleage, Author of “Things I Should Have Told My Daughter”.

MSNBC's "Disrupt with Karen Finney" -- Jonathan Alter, MSNBC Political Analyst; Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, MSNBC Contributor; Goldie Taylor, MSNBC Contributor; Irin Carmon, MSNBC.com.

CNN's "State of the Union" — DNC’s Mo Elleithee, Sean Spicer from the RNC, and political handicapper Stu Rothenberg; Sen. John Walsh, D-Mont.; Lukman Faily, Iraq's ambassador to the United States; Kim Beazley, Australia's ambassador to the U.S.

CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS" -- Harvard's Michael Porter, Simon Schama, author of The Story of the Jews.

MOYERS & COMPANY: What the 1% Don’t Want You to Know. Economist Paul Krugman explains how the United States is becoming an oligarchy – the very system our founders revolted against.

Bonus item: The shortest, wisest commencement speech you will ever see

http://www.vox.com/2014/4/19/5631654/this-graduation-speech-teaches-you-everything-you-need-to-know-about

1. Many things that are desirable are not feasible. . . . [read on]

Saturday, April 19, 2014

HOPING FOR FAILURE

Why good news for Obamacare is bad news for the GOP

http://tinyurl.com/kmrx9os

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/how-the-gop-bet-on-failure-and-lost

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/04/18/1292956/-Republicans-respond-to-good-Obamacare-news-Lalala-we-can-t-hear-nbsp-you

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/gop-obama-were-not-moving-n84001

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/04/18/1292914/-Abbreviated-Pundit-Roundup-In-fighting-the-ACA-Republicans-will-have-an-uphill-battle

Where are your friends when you need them?

http://www.vox.com/2014/4/18/5625460/obama-seems-awfully-skeptical-putin-will-make-good-whats-his-plan-b
Obama's Ukraine plan relies on Europe, and that's why it's failing

Pregnant possibilities

http://www.vox.com/2014/4/18/5627724/what-chelsea-clintons-pregnancy-means-for-2016
What Chelsea Clinton's pregnancy means for 2016

More: http://crooksandliars.com/2014/04/and-so-it-begins-chelseas-pregnancy

The death of democracy (really!)

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/princeton-experts-say-us-no-longer-democracy

http://www.vox.com/2014/4/18/5624310/martin-gilens-testing-theories-of-american-politics-explained

If there is an argument for unlimited campaign donations, it is that full disclosure will serve as a corrective. Now conservatives don't want that either

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/04/18/the-coming-gop-campaign-for-donor-secrecy/

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/04/krauthammer-lights-way-tidal-waves-secret-campaign-cash

What does it say about the GOP that Mitt Romney is still taken seriously as an elder statesman?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/04/18/1292945/-Mitt-Romney-party-elder-and-statesman

Just plain interesting

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/04/18/how-democratic-and-republican-morals-compare-to-the-rest-of-the-world/
How Democratic and Republican morals compare to the rest of the world

Bonus item: When the "vast right-wing conspiracy" started

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2014/04/18/clinton_conspiracy_memo_is_released.html

It's still going on: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/04/18/the-health-care-debate-hasnt-changed-in-20-years-new-clinton-documents-show/

Friday, April 18, 2014

HARD TO LET GO

I wish I knew how to quit yew . . .

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/nrcc-tweet-obamacare-no-we-cant
GOP To Obama: 'No, We Can't' Move On From Obamacare

GOP: no alternative

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/04/17/nobody-believes-there-is-any-gop-alternative-to-obamacare/
Amid all the debate over whether Republicans will ever offer an alternative to Obamacare — and whether “repeal and replace” will ever be anything more than a slogan — one thing is worth reiterating: The American public doesn’t believe there is any Republican alternative to the health care law. . . . That’s why this exchange between GOP Rep. Dennis Ross of Florida and a constituent is so interesting: In it, the Republican Congressman excoriates his own party for failing to offer its own health reform plan, admits Republicans are unlikely to change this before the election, and even says Republicans have lost “credibility” on the issue, turning it into a loser for them. . . . [watch]

More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-gop-should-have-gone-rtl-instead-of.html
They made a mistake. They adopted the NRA all or nothing strategy when they should have adopted the "pro-life" death-by-a-thousand-cuts strategy. If they had just chosen a few elements to deride instead of barking about 'repeal" every five minutes they'd have something to work with. After all, many elements of the reforms are things they should, by all rights, be in favor of. Since they are not required to set forth any policies or programs that make any sense or have the possibility of working the way they say they will they could have initiated a strategy of picking it apart while still being in favor of "reform." . . .

Obamacare: 8 million sign-ups!

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/obama-obamacare-enrollment-final

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/04/17/heres-how-we-got-to-8-million-obamacare-signups/

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/04/good-news-obamacare-just-keeps-rolling
The Good News on Obamacare Just Keeps Rolling In

Call it "torture"

http://www.salon.com/2014/04/17/5_stunning_revelations_from_senate_report_exposing_cia_torture_partner/
5 stunning revelations from Senate report exposing CIA torture

More: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/04/11/224085/cias-use-of-harsh-interrogation.html

The new GOP fundraising ploy

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/18/us/politics/gop-campaign-outreach-tool-gun-sweepstakes.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

The funniest story in the 2014 election narrative is Rand Paul's half-hearted, self-undermining "endorsement" of fellow KY Senator Mitch McConnell

http://www.salon.com/2014/04/17/rand_paul_still_cant_explain_why_he_supports_mitch_mcconnell/

Koch addiction

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/never-say-they-take-their-eyes-off-ball.html

How Fox World interviews people

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/bill-oreilly-gabriel-sherman-drop-dead
"Drop dead!"

Bonus item: "Data journalism"

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/04/why-the-new-data-journalism-really-is-partisan.html

Thursday, April 17, 2014

MATERIAL CONDITIONS

Slow progress

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/04/16/yellen-the-recovery-could-be-nearly-complete-within-two-years/
Yellen: The recovery could be nearly complete within two years

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/04/16/watch-the-recession-sweep-over-the-u-s-in-one-gif/?wprss=rss_politics&clsrd

Dooh Nibor

http://tinyurl.com/ld45gx7
Paul Ryan’s reverse-Robin Hood spending plan: Rob from the poor and give to the rich

Koch addiction

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2014/04/17/koch_brothers_now_worth_100_billion.html
Koch Brothers Now Worth $100 Billion

Your daily Christie

http://www.northjersey.com/news/law-firm-hired-by-christie-for-internal-probe-donated-10k-in-2014-to-rga-1.997012
Law firm hired by Christie for internal probe donated $10K in 2014 to RGA

Rebranding what?

http://www.salon.com/2014/04/17/gops_new_class_of_jokers_meet_the_rising_stars_of_the_dumbest_rebrand_ever/
GOP’s new class of jokers: Meet the “rising stars” of the dumbest rebrand ever

More: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/unflattering-portrait-susana-martinez

The state of the Culture War

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/04/16/1292470/-11-reasons-conservatives-are-winning-culture-war-Ha-ha-ha

http://prospect.org/article/culture-war-goes

Uh . . . . . . no

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/04/16/can-the-republican-party-thrive-on-white-identity/?wprss=rss_politics&clsrd
Can the Republican Party thrive on white identity?

The pot debate

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/04/research-even-casual-marijuana-use-causes
Research: Even Casual Marijuana Use Causes Permanent Brain Damage

More: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/17/no-weed-won-t-rot-your-brain.html

http://www.salon.com/2014/04/16/our_american_love_hate_relationship_with_pot/

http://www.vox.com/2014/4/16/5620322/how-legalized-pot-would-change-america

Glenn Beck launches new career . . . as prophet

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/04/glenn-beck-says-his-god-prophecy-coming

Fox World's aversion to facts

Exhibit A: http://crooksandliars.com/2014/04/even-fox-news-cant-spin-favorable-aca-cbo

Exhibit B: http://crooksandliars.com/2014/04/fox-news-misreports-new-irs-emails-reports

Bonus item: Rush Limbaugh: no longer relevant?

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/04/rush-limbaugh-beginning-end

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

DRAWING BOUNDARIES

Personhood and heartbeats: the next battlefield of the abortion wars

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/04/15/coming-this-fall-in-the-senate-races-a-fight-over-personhood/

More: http://prospect.org/article/abortion-restriction-that%E2%80%99s-too-extreme-most-pro-lifers

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_04/the_phony_civil_war_within_the049900.php

We obsess over the deficit when it suits the Repubs. But when Dems like Clinton or Obama actually DO something about it, it becomes irrelevant

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-14/u-s-deficit-cut-almost-one-third-to-492-billion-cbo.html

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/14/interest-rates-and-the-budget-outlook/?module=BlogPost-Title&version=Blog%20Main&contentCollection=Opinion&action=Click&pgtype=Blogs&region=Body

A typical Politico howler: if the Repubs take over the Senate, it will become more moderate and bipartisan. Are you KIDDING me?

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=846E570A-8DF2-49BF-ADD0-98166A158D90

In reality: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/04/what-would-majority-leader-mitch-mcconnell-do.html

Your daily Christie: I think this is what we're going to find out -- a deep and unhealthy blurring between the gov's administrative staff and his politicized re-election staff

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/04/15/1292176/-Christie-aides-received-mandatory-directives-to-ignore-unfriendly-mayors

Koch addiction

http://www.vox.com/2014/4/15/5618724/the-koch-brothers-posted-something-awesome-on-facebook

More on high-frequency trading, and why you should be concerned about it

http://www.vox.com/2014/4/15/5616574/high-frequency-trading-guide-real-problems-explained

KKK: We're a Christian organization!

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/21/virginia-kkk-imperial-wizard-were-not-hateful-were-a-christian-organization/#.U0zQNtcPzME.twitter

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/04/15/five-charts-on-hate-groups-and-hate-crime-in-the-u-s/

ABC News courts the far right

http://www.salon.com/2014/04/15/abc_news_rightward_lurch/

In Fox World, Bill O'Reilly tries to turn a basketball interview into another occasion for race-bashing

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/15/bill-o-reilly-tries-to-enlist-kentucky-s-basketball-coach-in-bashing-blacks.html

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/04/14/data-suggest-republicans-have-a-race-problem/
Republicans have a race problem

Bonus item: BAY-ner! It's pronounced BAY-ner!

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/15/boehner-challenger-makes-electile-dysfunction-video.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

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

TAX DAY

http://www.vox.com/2014/4/3/5575936/9-things-you-didnt-know-about-income-taxes
9 things you didn't know about income taxes

http://www.vox.com/2014/4/14/5611944/where-your-tax-dollars-go-in-one-chart
Where your tax dollars go, in one chart

So true

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/04/14/1291989/-Rep-Marsha-Blackburn-Republicans-have-led-the-fight-for-women-s-equality
Rep. Marsha Blackburn: Republicans 'have led the fight for women's equality'

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_04/equal_rights_for_women_and_the049888.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-try-to-address-war-on-women-with-an-army-of-young-volunteers/2014/04/14/8417bddc-c3fd-11e3-b195-dd0c1174052c_story.html

Straight out of the Karl Rove playbook: accuse others of what you are doing

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/scott-brown-jeanne-shaheen-senator-from-massachusetts-john-sununu
Scott Brown's Campaign Mocks His Opponent As A 'Senator From Massachusetts'

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/04/14/1291916/-Wait-who-s-being-accused-of-being-the-senator-from-Massachusetts-in-New-Hampshire-Senate-race

Obamacare IS working

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/14/cbo-obamacare-report_n_5146896.html
CBO: Obamacare Will Cost Less Than Projected, Cover 12 Million Uninsured People This Year

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_04/more_good_news_on_obamacare_th049887.php

http://www.vox.com/2014/4/14/5613094/obamacare-derangement-syndrome

Obama's judicial nominations

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/04/14/obamas-judicial-appointments-liberal-but-not-that-liberal/
Liberal, but not that liberal

More: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/04/what-would-majority-leader-mitch-mcconnell-do.html

Pulitzers!

http://www.salon.com/2014/04/14/a_pulitzer_triumph_snowden_reporting_wins_journalisms_top_prize/
Guardian, Washington Post win for surveillance reporting by Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras and Barton Gellman

http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2014/04/14/why-couldnt-pulitzer-prize-board-have-awarded-individual-journalists-as-well-as-media-organizations-for-nsa-reporting/
Pulitzer Prize Board Should’ve Awarded Individual Journalists as Well as Media Organizations for NSA Reporting

Conservative wunderkind Ben Shapiro is really, really offended by Stephen Colbert's "blackface" portrayal of conservatives

http://www.truthrevolt.org/commentary/stephen-colberts-vile-political-blackface

Bonus item: It's what they do

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/shoe-truthers-hillary-clinton
Some conservative media figures are openly wondering if Hillary Clinton staged an incident during a speech in Las Vegas on Thursday in which a woman in the audience threw a shoe at her. The shoe appeared to miss the rumored 2016 presidential hopeful, who ducked and made light of it, while the reported thrower, Alison Michelle Ernst, was booked by the authorities. . . .

More: http://crooksandliars.com/2014/04/rush-limbaughs-subconscious-believes