DECISION TIME

Joe Biden says no, but people still can't help wondering, "what if?"

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/22/us/politics/joe-biden-presidential-race-campaign.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
In Joe Biden’s Speech, Glimpses of Campaign He Might Have Run

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/22/upshot/what-we-would-have-said-if-joe-biden-had-run.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
What We Would Have Said if Joe Biden Had Run

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/21/lets-face-it-joe-bidens-message-would-have-flopped-with-democrats/
Let’s face it: Joe Biden’s message would have flopped with Democrats

Biden and Bin Laden

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/joe-biden-support-bin-laden-raid-214954
Biden says he backed bin Laden raid all along

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/joe-biden-bin-laden-raid_5627adf1e4b08589ef49faa0
Joe Biden Told Colleague He 'Didn’t Have The Balls' To Back Bin Laden Raid

Back to reality

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/polls-clintons-post-debate-lead-grows
Polls: Clinton's Post-Debate Lead Grows

http://politicalwire.com/2015/10/21/clinton-consolidates-support-among-democrats/
Clinton Consolidates Support Among Democrats 

More: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2015/10/20/what-hillarys-claim-that-republicans-are-her-enemies-is-really-about/
What Hillary’s claim that Republicans are her ‘enemies’ is really about

Benghazi

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/how-can-you-tell-its-witch-hunt.html
How can you tell it's a witch hunt?

But . . . but . . . he can't!

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/21/democrats_destructive_bernie_sanders_myth_stop_saying_he_cant_win/
Democrats’ destructive Bernie Sanders myth: Stop saying he can’t win! 

Paul Ryan says "maybe," and immediately is reminded of why he should have said "no"

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/paul-ryan-has-conditions-for-serving-as-speaker.html
Paul Ryan Says He Will Serve As House Speaker, Maybe

http://www.vox.com/polyarchy/2015/10/21/9583062/paul-ryan-dilemma
Paul Ryan wants to be speaker on his terms. But he needs to cut a deal.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/paul-ryan-speaker-family_5626e133e4b08589ef49a6f7
Paul Ryan's Remarkable, Personal Demand For Becoming Speaker

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2015/10/20/morning-plum-no-paul-ryan-probably-cant-unify-the-republican-party/
No, Paul Ryan probably can’t ‘unify’ the Republican Party

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/house-freedom-caucus-paul-ryan-skepticism
House Freedom Caucus Members Cool To Paul Ryan's Initial Pitch

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/21/1436891/-GOP-hardliners-already-circling-the-firing-squad-for-Ryan
GOP hardliners already circling the firing squad for Ryan

More: http://www.vox.com/2015/10/21/9582122/paul-ryan-speaker
Heads, Paul Ryan wins. Tails, the House Freedom Caucus loses.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/freedom-caucus-will-back-ryan-on-their-terms.html
Freedom Caucus Agrees to Make Paul Ryan Speaker, on Their Terms

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_10/ryan_moves_the_goalposts_decla058245.php
Ryan Moves the Goalposts, Declares Victory
 
Back to reality

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/20/1435790/-Surprise-Boehner-might-not-have-the-votes-to-raise-the-debt-ceiling
Surprise: Boehner might not have the votes to raise the debt ceiling

Dr. Ben is a dangerous dude

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/21/ben-carson-dept-of-education-should-police-extreme-political-bias-in-colleges.html
Ben Carson: Dept. of Education Should Police ‘Extreme’ Political Bias in Colleges

And it's working! http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/10/22/ben-carson-edges-ahead-of-donald-trump-in-latest-iowa-poll/?partner=rss&emc=rss
Ben Carson Edges Ahead of Donald Trump in Latest Iowa Poll

In Fox World

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/fox-news-andrea-tantaros-has-conspiracy
Fox News' Andrea Tantaros Has Conspiracy Laden Meltdown After Joe Biden Speech

Bonus item: October 21, 2015 - "Back to the Future Day"

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/21/9586196/back-to-the-future-day-predictions-chart
12 of Back to the Future’s biggest 2015 predictions, in one chart

More: http://www.vox.com/2015/10/21/9581539/back-to-the-future-day-2015-predictions-hoax

***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.***

HOPELESS

Could it be that the Benghazi investigation is becoming even more of a joke?

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2015/10/benghazi-committee-screws-again
Already wobbling with accusations, some by its own Republican members, that it’s been running a Hillary Clinton hit squad since May 2014, leaders of the panel struggled Sunday to fend off new charges that they had mischaracterized the former secretary of state’s handling of sensitive intelligence. . . .

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/trey-gowdy-release-cia-source-name-benghazi-committee-214919#ixzz3p2BOexwA
House Benghazi Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy appears to have accidentally released the name of a CIA source in the midst of a back-and-forth with Democrats about how sensitive the information was and whether its presence in former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s private email account constituted a security breach. . . .

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/trey-gowdy-benghazi-214911#ixzz3oxpYjOZV
“I would say in some ways these have been among the worst weeks of my life,” Gowdy said this weekend during a lengthy interview with POLITICO. “Attacks on your character, attacks on your motives, are 1,000-times worse than anything you can do to anybody physically — at least it is for me.”

More: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2015/10/19/this-week-marks-the-end-of-the-benghazi-scandal/
This week marks the end of the Benghazi ‘scandal’ 

Hillary takes on the NRA

http://prospect.org/article/hillary-clinton-showing-actual-courage-guns

I have no doubt this is possible

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/gop-rep-wants-impeach-president-clinton
GOP Rep Wants To Impeach 'President Hillary Clinton' On Day One

Tell me again why we should think Marco Rubio is the next great GOP hope?

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/rubio-wake-up-call-214890#ixzz3p20mef6N
For all the buzz surrounding his campaign, the Florida senator isn't raising enough money and hasn't yet built much of a field organization.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/rubios-ideas-about-energy-terrifyingly-stupid.html
Marco Rubio’s Ideas About Climate and Energy Are Terrifyingly Stupid

Meanwhile . . . 

http://politicalwire.com/2015/10/19/trump-continues-national-lead/
Trump and Carson Expand Lead Over Field 

The GOP's troubles continue to mount

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2015/10/gop-party-ne-escape
The problem is that just as Democrats were torn apart by their ideas 30 years ago, Republicans are being torn apart by theirs today. All the once-reliable Republican applause lines are fast becoming wedge issues that divide the party regulars from the tea party base. And this is all coming at the same time that Republicans are fighting the headwind of a long-term demographic shift that weakens them further with every election cycle. . . . [read on]

Where corporal punishment is still legal in US schools

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/19/in-this-part-of-the-united-states-principals-still-legally-hit-students/

Headlines that look like a joke, but aren't

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/detroit-pastor-shoots-man-in-his-church.html
Glock-Wielding Detroit Pastor Fatally Shoots Brick-Wielding Man Who Accused Him of Sleeping With His Wife

In Fox World

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/19/1435245/--Fox-Friends-hosts-say-9-11-was-the-fault-of-Bill-Clinton
'Fox & Friends' hosts say 9/11 was the fault of ... Bill Clinton
 
More: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/10/20/jeb-bush-bill-clintons-administration-made-a-mistake-not-pursuing-bin-laden-more-aggressively/
 

Bonus item: Seems like everyone in Burlington VT does a pretty good Bernie Sanders impression

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/20/us/politics/larry-david-is-not-the-only-one-with-a-bernie-sanders-impression.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

***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.***

ON THE MOVE

Hillary's turning point?

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/10/26/stranger-than-fiction-a-turning-point-for-hillary-clinton

More: http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/hillary-explains-why-gop-ideology-never
Hillary Explains Why GOP Ideology Never Changes: They Are 'Impervious To Evidence'

Erp!

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/19/9565119/democrats-in-deep-trouble
Democrats are in denial. Their party is actually in deep trouble.

Same site, same day

http://politicalwire.com/2015/10/18/trump-can-win-the-gop-nomination/
Trump Can Win the GOP Nomination 

http://politicalwire.com/2015/10/18/why-donald-trump-wont-win/
Why Donald Trump Won’t Win

Mitt doesn't  . . . err . . . know what to  . . . cough, cough . . .  say about Ben Carson

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/can-ben-carson-win-mitt-romneys
Can Ben Carson Win? Mitt Romney's Reflexive Coughing Tells You Everything You Need To Know 

More: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/19/did-ben-carson-already-break-campaign-law.html
Did Ben Carson Already Break Campaign Law?

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/faced-commander-chief-test-ben-carson-flunks
Faced with Commander-in-Chief test, Ben Carson flunks

Is Rand Paul really running for president? Doesn't seem so

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/19/rand-paul-s-campaign-into-obscurity-in-nh.html
The senator should be killing it in the land of libertarians—yet he continues to fall further and further behind. But at recent campaign events, it’s hard to tell if he even cares. 

The Rich Guy says 9/11 wouldn't have happened on his watch. Really, he said that

http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/10/18/chris-wallace-presses-donald-trump-fox-news-sunday-george-w-bush-911-comments
"I would have been much different," Trump said. "I am extremely, extremely tough on illegal immigration. I’m extremely tough on people coming into this country. I believe that if I were running things, I doubt those families would have – I doubt that those people would have been in the country."
 
Another 9/11 ouchie for Jeb 

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/jake-tapper-calls-out-jeb-bush-you-blame
Tapper Calls Out Jeb: You Blame Clinton For Benghazi But Say Brother Is Blameless For 9/11

More: http://www.salon.com/2015/10/19/donald_trump_is_destroying_jeb_bush_why_his_911_gambit_could_be_the_last_straw/

Not exactly "news"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-candidates-make-pitches-to-evangelical-voters/2015/10/18/7734d578-745a-11e5-8d93-0af317ed58c9_story.html
GOP candidates make pitches to evangelical voters

Bonus item: Kids reenact the Dem debate

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/19/kids-reenact-the-first-democratic-debate-video/

***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.***

WORKERS OF THE WORLD!

One of the things to give Bernie Sanders credit for is starting a national conversation about socialism 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/what-is-a-democratic-socialist-bernie-sanders-tries-to-redefine-the-name/2015/10/17/d722ba80-7370-11e5-9cbb-790369643cf9_story.html
What is a democratic socialist? Bernie Sanders tries to redefine the name. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/14/8-questions-you-were-too-embarrassed-to-ask-about-democratic-socialism/
8 questions about democratic socialism and Bernie Sanders’s vision for the United States 

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/14/9530787/socialism-history-explained
6 questions about socialism you were too embarrassed to ask

https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/what-you-need-to-know-about-socialism/2015/10/16/ab6c9502-744a-11e5-ba14-318f8e87a2fc_video.html
What you need to know about socialism
 
On the other hand, let's not get crazy

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/16/sorry_hillary_but_bernies_democratic_socialism_is_what_most_americans_yearn_for_partner/
Sorry, Hillary, but most Americans yearn for Bernie’s democratic socialism 

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/17/5_things_other_countries_do_that_could_change_american_minds_about_socialism_partner/
5 things that could change American minds about socialism 

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/maher-endorses-sanders-wants-help-him
Maher Endorses Sanders, Wants To Help Him Explain Socialism To Voters

Denmark, Bernie's socialist utopia

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/16/9544007/denmark-nordic-model

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/18/bernie-s-socialist-dreamland-is-bs.html

Something about Hillary

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/17/6_signs_that_show_the_new_hillary_is_still_the_old_hillary_partner/
She speaks like a progressive, but don't let that fool you  . . .

Why can't we get serious about domestic terrorism?

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/new-doj-department-domestic-terrorists
It's about time the feds started paying special attention to the domestic terrorists in this country. After all, domestic terrorists have killed more people since 9-11-2001 than Islamic terrorists have. . .  [read on]

Guess which GOP candidate has spent the least on their campaign?

http://politicalwire.com/2015/10/17/trump-has-spent-the-least-of-the-candidates/

More: http://politicalwire.com/2015/10/17/six-gop-hopefuls-face-tipping-point/
“Half a dozen Republican presidential candidates are edging toward financial crisis, raising the specter that some may be forced to drop out of the sprawling field of contenders,” Reuters reports. . . .

Why does anybody listen to her?

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/peggy-noonan-you-know-what-else-obamas
Peggy Noonan: You Know What Else Is Obama's Fault? The Rise Of Donald Trump.

The Sunday talk show line-ups

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/18/1433793/-Sunday-Talk-Open-to-debate
NBC Meet the Press: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX); Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA); Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS); Roundtable: Guests TBD.

CBS Face the Nation: Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC); Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD); Democratic Strategist David Axelrod; Roundtable: Jeffrey Goldberg (The Atlantic), Mark Halperin (Bloomberg Politics), Bob Woodward (Washington Post) and Nancy Cordes (CBS News).      

ABC This Week: Part-Time Presidential Candidate/Grifter Ben Carson (R); Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT); Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL); Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI); Roundtable: "Independent" Strategist Matthew Dowd, Bill Kristol (Weekly Standard), Katrina vanden Heuvel (The Nation) and Democratic Strategist Donna Brazile.

CNN State of the Union: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D); Former Florida Gov. Jeb! (R); 2012 Republican Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney.

Bonus item: Larry David plays Bernie Sanders on SNL

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/18/larry-david-plays-bernie-sanders-on-saturday-night-live-and-fulfills-our-fantasy.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.***

FROM THE SKIES

I think the use of drones has created a kind of warfare we still haven't fully come to grips with

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/16/1433467/-Its-cache-of-leaked-documents-makes-The-Intercept-s-expos-of-targeted-killings-must-reading

More: http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/10/15/the-intercepts-drone-papers-revelations-mandate-a-congressional-investigation/?wp_login_redirect=0

Look who's debating 9/11 now

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-jeb-and-increasingly-weird-911-debate

More: http://www.vox.com/2015/10/16/9556351/jeb-bush-kept-us-safe

One of the Benghazi committee's real handicaps is its chair

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/gowdy-cares-so-much-about-benghazi-couldnt

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/16/1433929/-Trey-Gowdy-is-a-phony-grandstanding-piece-of-manure

More: http://www.vox.com/2015/10/16/9553577/benghazi-committee-clinton-shut-down

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/clinton-abedin-benghazi-testimony-214867#ixzz3ohPkdZaQ

I always think how campaigns handle their finances should be one of the criteria for candidates

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/16/1433636/-Jeb-s-cash-advantage-dwindles-after-he-spends-hand-over-fist
Jeb!'s cash advantage dwindles after he spends hand over fist

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/fec-bush-214869#ixzz3opSk6knD
Jeb Bush slashes campaign salaries

More: http://www.salon.com/2015/10/16/jebs_ticking_clock_with_his_campaign_still_flailing_donors_are_questioning_their_investment/
Jeb’s ticking clock: With his campaign still flailing, donors are questioning their investment 

RNC chair says his party is "cooked" if it doesn't win in 2016

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/reince-priebus-2016-cooked-gop

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/16/rnc_chair_admits_the_gop_is_cooked_as_a_party_if_they_lose_the_white_house/

***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.***

GOOD SHOW!

So, Hillary won the first Dem debate, reassuring her supporters and showing why (whatever you think of her) she is going to be the Democratic nominee and not Bernie Sanders. If she had done badly, you know what you would have heard. So what does she get for winning?

http://politicalwire.com/2015/10/15/most-democrats-say-clinton-won-debate/
Most Democrats Say Clinton Won Debate 

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_10/throwback_thursday_do_debates058137.php
Do Debates Really Matter?
 
http://www.salon.com/2015/10/15/hillary_vs_hillary_in_the_alien_vs_predator_cage_match_between_the_humane_and_reasonable_debate_winner_and_the_cynical_neoliberal_hawk_do_any_of_us_actually_win/
Hillary vs. Hillary

Ted Cruz's rhetoric

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2015/10/15/ted-cruz-slayer-of-tyrants/
“It was more socialism, more pacifism, more weakness and less Constitution,” he told about 100 people crammed into a motel lobby in Kalona, a small town in southeastern Iowa. “It was a recipe to destroy a country.”  

“We’re seeing our freedoms taken away every day and last night was an audition for who would wear the jackboot most vigorously. Last night was an audition for who would embrace government power for who would strip your and my individual liberties,” he said.

The Rich Guy just keeps makin' it up

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/15/donald_trump_claims_its_very_possible_the_democratic_national_committee_rigged_the_cnn_debate/
Donald Trump claims it’s “very possible” the Democratic National Committee rigged the CNN debate

The horrific story about the hospital bombing in Afghanistan

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/us-knew-bombed-afghan-site-was-a-hospital.html

More: http://www.vox.com/2015/10/15/9547061/kunduz-bombing-ap 

Putin's morass in Syria

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/15/9543151/assad-offensive-russia-fail

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2015/10/putins-war-syria-not-going-well-so-far 

More on Fox World's phony security "expert"

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/what-fox-isnt-telling-you-about-their

Bonus item: The Onion pokes fun of American politics

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/16/16_times_the_onion_masterfully_trolled_american_politics_partner/

***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.***

WHERE EMPIRES GO TO DIE

Obama's pull-out from Afghanistan, isn't


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/15/1432849/-Reports-Obama-to-announce-he-s-keeping-5-500-U-S-troops-in-Afghanistan
Reports: Obama to announce he's keeping 5,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan


More: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/confirmed-us-troops-to-stay-in-afghanistan.html


http://www.vox.com/2015/10/15/9539565/afghanistan-obama


http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/15/obama-s-right-not-to-quit-afghanistan.html


So much for the establishment hope that once the fringe candidates are gone, Jeb W. Bush can beat the Rich Guy one on one


http://www.vox.com/2015/10/15/9533279/trump-bush-rubio-polls


The psychology of Trump supporters: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/15/i-asked-psychologists-to-analyze-trump-supporters-this-is-what-i-learned/


They're running the show


http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/trump-and-carson-threaten-boycott-next-gop
Trump And Carson Threaten To Boycott Next GOP Debate


Rand Paul's libertarianism only goes so far


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/15/1432887/-Rand-Paul-Getting-fired-for-being-gay-is-just-fine-cuz-plenty-of-places-will-hire-you
Rand Paul: Getting fired for being gay is just fine cuz ‘plenty of places' will hire you


http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/rand-paul-dont-impinge-on-freedom-to-fire-gays.html
Rand Paul: Let’s Not Impinge on Your Boss’s Freedom to Fire Gay People


Another House Republican who just can't avoid blurting out the truth


http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2015/10/14/3712578/richard-hanna-benghazi-clinton/
Second Republican Congressman Admits Benghazi Committee Was ‘Designed To Go After’ Clinton


More: http://www.vox.com/2015/10/15/9539481/republican-benghazi-committee-designed


http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2015/10/benghazi-charade-finally-melting-away
The Benghazi Charade Is Finally Melting Away


John Boehner's final farewell


http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/boehner-debt-ceiling-clean-vote


The kind of people they are


http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/randy-pullen-democratic-debate-blacks-guns
Ariz. GOPer: Let's 'Take Guns Away From Blacks As They Are The Main Killers'


The problem with saying "it's both parties." It's not


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/14/1432542/-It-s-not-Congress-that-s-dysfunctional-it-s-the-Republican-Party
It's not Congress that's dysfunctional—it's the Republican Party


Real numbers


http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/15/most-gun-owners-dont-belong-to-the-nra-and-they-dont-agree-with-it-either/
Most gun owners don’t belong to the NRA — and they don’t agree with it either


Fox World's disregard for facts catches up with them


http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/fox-news-guest-charged-cia
Fox News Regular Indicted Over Allegedly Concocting Bogus CIA Past


More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/16/1432577/-Fox-Friends-continues-to-be-the-lead-paint-of-news


http://www.salon.com/2015/10/14/laura_ingraham_and_fox_news_have_a_dumb_new_lie_that_sounds_a_lot_like_one_of_their_greatest_hits/

Bonus item: From the National Inquirer to Politico

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/enquirer-reports-clinton-dying-politico

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THEIR TURN

Hillary: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/10/14/does-clintons-debate-win-take-the-air-out-of-bidens-balloon/
After Clinton turned in a sterling debate performance, Democratic officials were abuzz about the implications for Biden.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/clinton-just-made-bidens-decision-a-lot-harder.html
Hillary Clinton Just Made Joe Biden’s Decision a Lot Harder

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/hillary-clinton-panic-may-have-just-ended.html
The Hillary Clinton Panic May Have Just Ended

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/14/9529025/hillary-clinton-silenced-her-critics
Hillary Clinton silenced her critics
 
Bernie: https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/six-times-bernie-sanders-showed-his-socialist-street-cred/2015/10/14/f025578c-722a-11e5-ba14-318f8e87a2fc_video.html
Six times Bernie Sanders showed his 'socialist' street cred

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/14/9528871/debate-bernie-sanders-guns
When guns came up in the debate, Bernie Sanders sounded nothing like Bernie Sanders

In a hurry?

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/video/2015/10/cnn_democratic_debate_recap_all_the_hillary_and_bernie_action_from_the_first.html
The CNN Democratic Debate in 90 Seconds

Nothing much to add

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/13/9521719/david-brooks-republican-party
David Brooks: The Republican Party is producing "leaders of jaw-dropping incompetence"

More: http://www.salon.com/2015/10/13/chris_matthews_eviscerates_dysfunctional_gop_there_is_something_wrong_with_a_party_when_they_cant_pick_a_leader/

The end of the Benghazi committee?

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/gops-benghazi-committee-starts-unravel

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2015/10/12/the-tide-turns-against-the-benghazi-committee/

Asked and answered

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/13/ben_carson_bill_oreilly_throw_a_pity_party_theres_something_about_you_that_really_annoys_the_secular_progressives/
Ben Carson & Bill O’Reilly throw a pity party: “There’s something about you that really annoys the secular-progressives” 

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2015/10/ben-carson-paranoid-nutcase
Ben Carson Is a Paranoid Nutcase

Newt sucks up to Fox World

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/newt-fox-news-has-bad-reputation-because
Newt: 'Fox News Has A Bad Reputation Because You Insist On The Facts'

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

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

THE REAL BENGHAZI SCANDAL

Clearly we need a Benghazi Committee Committee

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/12/1431284/-Ex-Benghazi-committee-investigator-says-Gowdy-violated-federal-law
Ex-Benghazi committee investigator says Gowdy violated federal law

More: http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/rep-trey-gowdy-melts-down-blasts-cnn-calls

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2015/10/12/the-tide-turns-against-the-benghazi-committee/
The tide turns against the Benghazi committee

A Benghazi primer

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/12/9489389/benghazi-explained
If there's no evidence of a cover-up or wrongdoing, why are Republicans still looking into this?

Perfect. Now the GOP is attacking Hillary for supporting Bush's Iraq War

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/rnc-slams-clinton-over-supporting-iraq-war-2002

The Big Money behind our politics

http://www.vox.com/polyarchy/2015/10/12/9508585/new-york-times-big-donors
The New York Times's interactive feature about the 158 families that have provided almost half of the money in the first stage of the 2016 presidential election is a remarkable achievement in journalism, analysis, and creative data visualization . . .

Cannibals

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/13/us/politics/latest-unease-on-right-ryan-is-too-far-left.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Some influential members of the conservative news media have turned on Representative Paul Ryan, whom Republicans are trying to draft for speaker of the House.

Really, Jeb?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/12/1431177/-Dumber-than-W-Jeb-Bush-says-Washington-is-a-pejorative-term-and-its-NFL-team-s-racist-name-isn-t
Bush says Washington is a pejorative term, and its NFL team's racist name isn't

The insistence of the media in treating all the GOP candidates seriously is blocking the conversation we need to have: Is Dr. Ben crazy?

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/ben-carson-just-cant-help-himself

More: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/11/ben-carson-gives-new-meaning-to-crazy.html

http://www.forwardprogressives.com/5-ben-carson-quotes-proving-hes-too-crazy-to-be-president/

This is a low point, even for Fox World

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/12/1431109/-Fox-News-columnist-Ablow-Jews-surrendered-to-Hitler-should-have-more-actively-resisted
Fox News columnist Ablow: Jews 'surrendered' to Hitler, should have 'more actively resisted'

More: http://www.salon.com/2015/10/12/fox_news_sick_grotesquerie_the_insane_right_wing_holocaust_meme_is_so_much_worse_than_ben_carson/

Nineteen more worst moments from Fox World

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/huffington-post-celebrates-fox-news
 

Bonus item: Not part of our usual coverage, but noteworthy I guess

http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/10/playboy-to-ditch-nudes-focus-on-the-articles.html

Six decades after it helped launch the sexual revolution in America, Playboy is putting some clothes on. The New York Times reports that in March, when the magazine launches its latest redesign, it will stop featuring fully nude women.  . . .

***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.***