INSANELY GREAT

It’s not part of PBD’s scope of work, but we have to note the passing of Steve Jobs, who more than anyone else created the personal computer that has transformed the way we live, work, study, and create. Every single issue of PBD (approaching 3000) was composed on a Mac. I bought the very first 128K Mac (1984) and have never owned anything but Apple products. There has always been something personal about my connection with this company and its vision of the future – and I think I am not alone in that. Whatever the future of Apple might be, it will never be the same

What started it all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ah, I love it when the GOPers get back to their First Principles

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/cain-if-you-dont-have-a-job-and-you-are-not-rich-blame-yourself-video.php
Cain: ‘If You Don’t Have A Job And You Are Not Rich, Blame Yourself!’

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/wall-streeters-go-back-to-work
Wall Streeter to Occupiers: Go Back to Work!

Truth in advertising

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_10/building_a_bridge_to_the_18th032631.php
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) said he was only making “a historical observation” during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, but what an observation it was.

“[T]here was a time in American history when you had to be a male property owner in order to vote. . . .

“Now we have data out there that shows that 47 percent of American households don’t pay taxes, 51 percent of American wage-earners don’t have an income tax liability. And it’s pretty clear that there are a lot of people who are not in the workforce at all…. I don’t think they’re paying taxes. But many of them are voting. And when they vote, they vote for more government benefits. […]

“What if that were transferred into a society like today and it were [only] taxpayers that were voting?”

Thirteen (only thirteen?) ways in which the Repubs are wrong about the economy

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/10/13-ways-which-republicans-are-wrong

Willard (Mitt) Romney: the totally synthetic presidential candidate

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/10/mitt-romney-perfect-cyborg-tea-party-president

Creepy too: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/05/1023068/-Romney:-Is-this-your-wife-Do-you-mind-if-I-put-my-arm-around-her-like%C2%A0that

Romney 2012 – is it inevitable now? http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_10/a_shotgun_wedding_or_alone_at032633.php

Talk about anticlimactic: with scarcely a blip, Sarah! finally lets us know she isn’t running for President after all. Is anyone surprised?

http://swampland.time.com/2011/10/05/palin-will-not-seek-the-gop-nomination/
“After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States,” Palin wrote in a statement from her home in Wasilla, Alaska. “As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order.” . . .


”I will continue driving the discussion for freedom and free markets, including in the race for President,” she wrote. “In the coming weeks I will help coordinate strategies to assist in replacing the President, re-taking the Senate, and maintaining the House.”

So modest: http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/palin-i-didnt-want-to-make-a-big-deal-about-dropping-out-like-christie.php
Palin: I Didn’t Want To Make A ‘Big Darn Deal’ About Dropping Out Like Christie Did

A video retrospective: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/10/the_sarah_pantheon.php

What will Fox do now? http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/ailes-reflects-i-hired-palin-because-she-was-hot-and-got-ratings.php
Fox News Boss: I Hired Palin Because She Was ‘Hot And Got Ratings’

Bonus item: Rush has a little meltdown

http://crooksandliars.com/mike-stark/rush-limbaugh-completely-loses-cool-aft

***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.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 6:24 AM

 
NO CHANGE

The latest (and last?) GOP Hope For Somebody Else declines to get into the race. Now what?

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2011/10/chris_christie_announces_he_s_not_running_republicans_may_contin.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_10/christie_bows_out_again032604.php

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/10/04/after_christie.html

Fox News is VERY disappointed: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/10/carnage_in_murdoch_primary.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-2012-gop-primary-as-reality-tv-show/2011/03/28/gIQAaPKzKL_blog.html
[Jonathan Bernstein] [T]here’s a public reality TV show going on at Fox News and elsewhere that has very little to do with the actual business of selecting the candidate. In the GOP Nomination Reality TV Show, different “candidates” get rolled out, get a bunch of attention, get the subsequent polling bump that proves little more than that they’ve been in the news lately, and then everyone gets bored and moves on to the next one. . .

Romney by default?

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/10/get_ready_for_the_shotgun_wedding.php

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/10/why-republicans-should-mitt-romney

Romney: another failure of moral courage

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/mitt-romney-jurys-still-out-on-what-those-people-were-booing-when-that-gay-soldier-talked-so-im-not.php
Unlike much of the rest of the GOP field, Romney’s not ready to condemn the booing of a gay soldier at the last debate. . . .

Some candidates have even said they wish they had said something at the debate instead of standing silent when the boos came.

Not Romney.

“You’d have to look at it,” he told the New Hampshire Union-Leader, according to the Wall Street Journal. “I don’t know when they booed, and I don’t know why people booed. . .”

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_10/romney_still_wont_stand_up_for032611.php

Press, shmess

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/10/04/why_doesnt_perry_give_interviews.html
Why Doesn't Perry Give Interviews?

Matt Yglesias gives us the shorter Instapundit (Glenn Reynolds)

http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/10/04/335174/the-racial-resentment-checklist/
See, Perry’s not a racist. But if Perry did do anything racist, it’s because he used to be a Democrat (heh). Yet the real victims here are white people, and once upon a time Herman Cain looked like he might be a hero to the white race. Now we see, though, that he’s just another black politician being all “racist racist racist racist” to get ahead just like the rest of them. . . . After all, since white conservatives are the primary victims of racism in contemporary America, who better than Reynolds to put Cain back in his place and tell him how it is?

More: http://pandagon.net/index.php/site/comments/you_can_only_be_so_black_for_so_long

Yee-haw!

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/10/04/335330/perry-fought-to-keep-confederate-symbols-displayed-on-government-buildings/
Perry Fought To Keep Confederate Symbols Displayed On Government Buildings

Meanwhile, it looks like the Democrats have a nominee

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/president-obama-goes-on-the-attack-to-democrats-delight/2011/10/04/gIQAZdfQML_story.html
President Obama goes on the attack

More: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/10/05/pushing_a_dead_jobs_bill.html

“Disgust”

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/10/05/congressional_approval_sinks_to_another_new_low.html
A new Washington Post/ABC News poll finds Americans “have reached a new level of disgust toward Congress . . .” Just 14% approve of the job Congress is doing. . .

I’m ready

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2011/10/dick_cheney_s_criticism_of_obama_is_both_undignified_and_inaccur.html
Why former Vice President Cheney should no longer be allowed on network TV

Bonus item: A tale of two governors, halfway through their first terms

http://foxnewsinsider.com/2011/10/04/full-text-chris-christie%E2%80%99s-announcement-that-he-won%E2%80%99t-run-for-president-in-2012/
[Chris Christie, October 4, 2011] I have a commitment to New Jersey that I simply will not abandon. That’s the promise I made to the people of this state when I took office twenty months ago, to fix a broken New Jersey, and when I look at what we’ve accomplished so far, I’m proud, but I know we’re not nearly done.

I’ve made this commitment to my state first and foremost. The people sent me to Trenton to get a job done, and I’m just not prepared to walk away. I know not everyone agrees with my decision, but my loyalty to this state is what it is.

Abraham Lincoln said, “I’d like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives; I’d like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.”

That’s how I feel in my heart about New Jersey. I’m proud of this state and its people, and I know there’s still much more we need to do together to insure the future we want for all of our children. So this is not the time to leave unfinished business for me. . . .

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/full-text-of-palins-resignation-speech.php
[Sarah Palin, July 3, 2009] If I have learned one thing: LIFE is about choices! . . . Productive, fulfilled people determine where to put their efforts, choosing to wisely utilize precious time... to BUILD UP.

And there is such a need to BUILD up and FIGHT for our state and our country. I choose to FIGHT for it! . . . But I won't do it from the Governor's desk.

I've never believed that I, nor anyone else, needs a title to do this - to make a difference... to HELP people. So I choose, for my State and my family, more "freedom" to progress, all the way around... so that Alaska may progress...

I will not seek re-election as Governor. . .

With this announcement that I am not seeking re-election... I've determined it's best to transfer the authority of governor to Lieutenant Governor Parnell. . .

Let me go back to a comfortable analogy for me - sports... basketball. . . . A good point guard drives through a full court press, protecting the ball, keeping her eye on the basket... and she knows exactly when to pass the ball so that the team can WIN . . .

I do not want to disappoint anyone with my decision; all I can ask is that you TRUST me with this decision . . . I am taking my fight for what's right - for Alaska - in a new direction.

***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.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 6:34 AM

 
CIRCLING THE WAGONS

Whatever the internal rivalries of the GOP might be, they can't allow a focus to be drawn on their race-based appeals as a party. So when one of them is attacked, the defenders come out in droves. . .

Rush Limbaugh, a paragon of racial sensitivity, says he isn’t bothered by Rock Perry’s “Niggerhead” hunting grounds. Well, that puts the issue to rest for me

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/10/03/herman_cain_piggybacks_on_wapo_s_perry_smear_and_obama_s_debate_lie

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/03/1022435/-Pat-Buchanans-MSNBC-sponsor-says-Rick-Perry-disqualified-himself

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/03/1022427/-Rick-Perrys-hunting-grounds-name-provokes-outrage--at-Herman-Cain
Rick Perry's hunting grounds name provokes outrage ... at Herman Cain

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_10/cain_runs_into_farright_buzzsa032582.php
Today, Cain has decided he’s done with the issue . . . So, what happened over the last 24 hours? The right went after Cain pretty aggressively, and he quickly folded rather than take the criticism. [read on]

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/cain-gets-carded.html
[Digby] Well who could have ever predicted this . . .

Changing the issue: GOP defenders say Perry’s no racist (but of course, that’s not the accusation)

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/10/03/perry_critics_say_hes_no_racist.html

Eric Cantor: jobs bill DOA

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/obama-to-congress-vote-on-my-jobs-bill----cantor-to-obama-nope.php

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/10/03/all-major-initiatives-for-2011-come-crashing-down/

Obama: bring it on!

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/white-house-pass-the-jobs-bill-piecemeal-at-your-own-peril.php

Class warfare?

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/10/obamas-tax-proposals-are-pretty-easy-rich
Obama's Tax Proposals are Pretty Easy on the Rich

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/how-obamas-tax-hikes-will-really-impact-the-rich-in-three-easy-charts/2011/03/03/gIQAmbbLIL_blog.html

Trouble for the Koch brothers

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_10/the_story_the_koch_brothers_we032577.php
The story the Koch Brothers’ were afraid of

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/03/1022348/-Koch-brothers-flout-law-with-secret-sales-to-Iran

Dick Cheney wants Obama to apologize?

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_10/cheneys_should_be_giving_not_g032567.php
Cheneys should be giving, not getting, an apology

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/cheney-demands-obama-apologize-for-repudiating-his-torture-policies/2011/03/03/gIQAoiacIL_blog.html

A fine institution

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/alberto_gonzales_named_distinguished_chair_of_law.php
Alberto Gonzales Named 'Distinguished Chair of Law' By Belmont University

More: http://www.belmont.edu/
Belmont University is a student-centered Christian community providing an academically challenging education that empowers men and women of diverse backgrounds to engage and transform the world with disciplined intelligence, compassion, courage and faith.

The Rock’s decline and fall

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/10/rick-perrys-spectacular-fall-grace

Sarah!s decline and fall

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/campaign-in-100-seconds-whatever-happened-to-sarah-palin.php

The Mean Girl’s decline and fall

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/10/04/staff_leaves_bachmann_campaign.html
Staff Leaves Bachmann Campaign

Just too busy

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/10/03/bachmann_hasnt_voted_since_august_1.html
Bachmann Hasn't Voted Since August 1

***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.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 6:41 AM

 
ROCK HEAD

Does this end the Rock Perry candidacy?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/rick-perry-familys-hunting-camp-still-known-to-many-by-old-racially-charged-name/2011/10/01/gIQAOhY5DL_story.html
In the early years of his political career, Rick Perry began hosting fellow lawmakers, friends and supporters at his family’s secluded West Texas hunting camp, a place known by the name painted in block letters across a large, flat rock standing upright at its gated entrance.

“Niggerhead,” it read. . . . [read on]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/rick-perry-deflects-scrutiny-over-texas-hunting-camp-is-blasted-by-herman-cain/2011/10/02/gIQAOrqMGL_story.html
Rick Perry deflects scrutiny over Texas hunting camp, is blasted by Herman Cain

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/us/politics/perrys-link-to-n-word-place-name-puts-campaign-on-defensive.html

http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/10/02/333905/niggerhead-ranch/
[Matt Yglesias] I’ve learned in long years of experience blogging about American politics that there are no racists in the United States. Certainly if there are any, they’re not white people. And certainly if there are any racist white people, they’re not conservatives. So let’s just say that if you’re a Republican county commissioner in Minnesota, this is the kind of thing that might lead you to wonder if Perry’s brand of politics will play well outside the Old Confederacy where people sometimes misunderstand this kind of thing.

How things work

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/rep-hal-rogers-r-ky-just.php
Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) just can't seem to stick to his new diet goal of abstaining from steering millions of federal dollars to his cash-strapped district.

Earlier this year, the chairman of the top House spending panel who made a career out of earmarking millions of dollars to district pet projects, joined the GOP budget austerity movement spurred by the Tea Party-fueled GOP takeover of the House.

Rogers swore off all earmarks, pledged to trim the fat from the federal budget and played a key role in shepherding a two-week federal funding stopgap bill through the House, which cut $4 billion from the federal budget over 10 years.

He even told a McClatchy reporter March 6 that his own district would be among those suffering the most from Washington's new era of deficit reduction. . . .

Yet, just four days earlier, Rogers had sent two letters to the Department of Housing and Urban Development seeking federal funds for federal construction projects in his district. . .

The Koch brothers secret deals with Iran

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-02/koch-brothers-flout-law-getting-richer-with-secret-iran-sales.html

This is an endorsement the Obama admin doesn’t need

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/were-both-right-but-youre-wrong.html

http://www.emptywheel.net/2011/10/02/dick-cheney-obama-violates-american-principles-of-justice-just-like-i-did/

http://firedoglake.com/2011/10/02/dick-cheney-takes-credit-for-al-awlaki-strike-wants-obama-to-apologize/

GOP voter suppression is working

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/10/03/new_voting_restrictions_may_affect_5_million_voters.html
A Brennan Center study finds 19 recently passed voting laws in 14 states could make it significantly harder for more than five million eligible voters to cast ballots in 2012, leading to "significant electoral impact in next year's hard-fought races." . . .

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/us/new-state-laws-are-limiting-access-for-voters.html

In case you missed the Sunday talk shows

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/02/tv-soundoff-sunday-talkin_n_990974.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.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 6:37 AM

 
UNDER PROTEST

Scenes from #OccupyWallSt

http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/occupy-wall-street-begins-third-week-with-greatest-numbers-yet-aims-still-uncertain.php

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/01/1021936/-Occupy-Wall-Street:-Brooklyn-Bridge-occupied,-mass-arrests,-solidarity-events

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/protests-20.html

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/01/1021956/-First-official-statement-from-Occupy-Wall-Street

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/01/1021769/-Nurses-and-Laborers-unions-support-Occupy-Wall-Street

Boston and SF too: http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/arrests-boston-and-san-francisco-occu

And LA: http://lafiga.firedoglake.com/2011/10/01/occupy-los-angeles-totally-awesome/

The Fox News version

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/protest-mockery.html

A new euphemism: Don’t call it “assassination.” It’s “capture or kill”

http://www.emptywheel.net/2011/10/01/anwar-al-awlaki-assassination-double-secret-illegitimacy/

[NB: I’m sorry, but when you send a drone in to fire missiles at people, you aren’t trying to “capture” them!]

More: http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/10/01/333675/the-obama-doctrine-in-action/

Anti-immigrant laws drive Hispanic students out of Alabama schools – VERY smart move, in the long run, huh?

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/hispanic-students-vanish-alabama-schools

Lifelong GOPers: what’s happening to our party?

http://crooksandliars.com/cliff-schecter/no-longer-rock-party

Pure, irrational hatred: now the right wing is trashing Michelle Obama for shopping at Target

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/right-wing-viciously-attack-michele-oba

The Sunday talk show line-ups

http://firedoglake.com/2011/10/02/sunday-talking-heads-october-2-2011/
ABC’s This Week: Herman Cain. Roundtable: George Will, Jake Tapper, Nicolle Wallace, Mark Penn, with Matt Katz of the Philadelphia Enquirer and author of the blog, “Christie Chronicles.” Then, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz on boycotting political donations. Then , Senior foreign affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz on the Yemen killings.

CBS’ Face the Nation: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Plus, Gov. Martin O’Malley (D-MD) and Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS).

CNN’s State of the Union: Anwar Al-Awlaki killing – former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter, a former State Department official and national security advocate, Liz Cheney. Then, former NSA and CIA Director, Gen. Michael Hayden and former congresswoman, Jane Harman who served in the House Intelligence Committee for many years. Plus, Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS).

NBC’s Meet the Press: Chair of the Republican Governors Association, Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA) and Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA). Roundtable: The Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus in the House, Rep. Xavier Becerra (CA); Mike Murphy; EJ Dionne; Peggy Noonan.

Bonus item: Sarah!s list of personal feuds keeps growing

http://crooksandliars.com/tina-dupuy/palin-now-feuding-juan-williams-and-meg

***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.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 6:44 AM

 
WAR BY OTHER MEANS

Reflections on the al-Awlaki killing

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/09/obama-assassinates-us-citizen
Is this the first targeted assassination of a U.S. citizen as part of the war on terror? Probably. . . . [read on]

More: http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/09/us-citizen-anwar-al-awlaki-killed

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/09/30/american-citizen-anwar-al-awlaki-assassinated-in-yemen/

http://nationaljournal.com/with-awlaki-dead-it-s-clear-obama-s-campaign-against-al-qaida-knows-no-bounds-20110930

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/09/awlaki-dead-yemen/

http://my.firedoglake.com/scarecrow/2011/09/30/80903/

http://www.emptywheel.net/2011/09/30/extrajudicial-execution-of-samir-khan-arguably-more-significant-than-awlaki

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_09/the_awlaki_debate032540.php
[Steve Benen] I’m not going to pretend to be an expert on this; I’m not. I do think it’s worthwhile, though, to note some of the questions under debate.

* Do Americans who leave the country to join terrorist networks forfeit the rights given to other Americans? Does it matter if those terrorist networks are targeting the United States?

* If the Justice Department had prepared a criminal indictment against Awlaki, would the preferred route have been to pursue extradition or to try to seize him in Yemen through law enforcement?

* If Americans leave the country to fight for a foreign army, do they also give up their rights to due process? Should al Qaeda be considered a foreign army or a stateless terrorist network? Does it matter in this context?

* Media reports indicate that Awlaki was an “operational” leader of al Qaeda — instead of just being a propagandist — and has “links” to several violent plots. Are these accounts true? Would it matter if they are? (Is there a difference between killing an “operational” terrorist vs. a propagandistic one?)

* Did the 2001 AUMF declare war against al Qaeda? And if so, is there any limit to the scope of the “battlefield”? Does it matter that al Qaeda has declared war against the United States?

* If the United States is at war with al Qaeda, is there an expectation that we would execute that war differently when dealing with American members of al Qaeda?

* If the United States is at war with al Qaeda, is al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula the same thing?

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_10/a_due_process_in_war032553.php
[More from Benen] Additional details about the strike on al Qaeda’s Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen became available yesterday after news of his demise, including the realization that it was not Yemeni forces responsible for the attack, but rather, a U.S. drone strike. The mission was carried about between the CIA and JSOC.

Because Awlaki was an American — as was another al Qaeda member, Samir Khan, who was also killed in the same strike — questions remain about the legality of the attack. The Washington Post reports on the internal administration legal document justifying the action. . . . [read on]

Is Chris Christie too fat to become President?

http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/09/30/333491/moral-panic-fat-and-fiscal-policy

More: http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/09/chris_christie_is_fat_so_what.html

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/09/30/is_christie_too_fat_to_run_for_president.html

Mike Huckabee, who dropped out of the GOP race, is now looking over the state of the Republican pool of candidates and deciding, “Maybe I should get back into this thing.”

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/report-mike-huckabee-considering-a-run-too.php

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/30/1021636/-Mike-Huckabee-rethinking-2012-presidential%C3%82%C2%A0bid

Serial divorcee (and adulterer) Newt Gingrich now presents himself as the Defender of Marriage

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/gingrich-gay-marriage-is-a-temporary-aberration-that-will-dissipate.php

Michele Bachmann now comes out AGAINST the “Arab Spring” (and it’s all Obama’s fault)

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/30/1021658/-Michele-Bachmann-blames-Obama-for-Arab-Spring-Yes,-blames

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_09/how_the_farright_explains_the032539.php

Sarah! – don’t rush me, I’m still thinking (and still raising money from the promise that I MIGHT run)

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/09/30/palin_backs_off_her_own_deadline.html

The media starts its ritual chin-pulling over an Onion satire

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/30/1021381/-The-Onion-awakens-a-sleeping-giant
[ABC] Did The Onion Go Too Far? . . . [read on]

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/29/the-onion-twitter-attack-capitol_n_987416.html

Bonus item: Quote of the day

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/theres-been-class-warfare-for-the-last-20-years-and-my-class-has-won/2011/03/03/gIQApaFbAL_blog.html
[Warren Buffett] Actually, there’s been class warfare going on for the last 20 years, and my class has won. . . .

For example: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/30/1021638/-New-right-wing-attack-on-Elizabeth-Warren:-All-taxes-are-rape

***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.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 7:28 AM

 
BROKEN

We don’t do as much international coverage here as we might. Here’s one case where it’s necessary

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/euro-crisis-the-biggest-story-in-american-politics-and-nobodys-talking-about-it.php
Euro Crisis: The Biggest Story In American Politics And Nobody’s Talking About It

More: http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/09/28/331314/european-debt-crisis-primer

http://www.americablog.com/2011/09/roubini-us-economy-contracting.html

http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/09/29/germany-approves-expanded-european-bailout-fund/

http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/09/29/331601/the-european-crisis-shows-that-too-much-democracy-isnt-the-source-of-the-worlds-problems/

The GOP’s refusal to vote on Obama’s judicial nominees is having real consequences

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/29/1021329/-Federal-judicial-crisis-affects-two-thirds-of-the%C2%A0nation

Getting what they want: http://www.americablog.com/2011/09/obama-nominates-republican.html
Obama nominates Republican recommendations for open U.S. attorney positions in Utah and Texas

Good

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/29/1021296/-Occupy-Wall-Street:-NYPD-and-Manhattan-DA-to-investigate-use-of-pepper-spray-on-demonstrators
NYPD and Manhattan DA to investigate use of pepper spray on demonstrators

More: http://www.americablog.com/2011/09/more-shocking-video-of-nypd-brutality.html

Bad

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/09/30/awlaki
‘Glenn Greenwald] It was first reported in January of last year that the Obama administration had compiled a hit list of American citizens whom the President had ordered assassinated without any due process, and one of those Americans was Anwar al-Awlaki. . . . [read on]

Newt should stay out of the theocratic pool

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/gingrich-argues-god-must-exist-because-peopl

By the way, how’s that campaign coming along, guy? http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/09/29/gingrich_scolds_reporter_for_asking_about_money.html
Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times: "With the fundraising quarter coming to a close, what..."

Newt Gingrich: "See, I knew you couldn't resist. I'm not going to answer you. I think you should, you should really go home and think about why you would even ask that today."

“None of the above” is winning!

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/09/29/giuliani_still_flirting_with_president_bid.html
Giuliani Still Flirting with President Bid

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/09/30/christie_seriously_considering_bid.html
Christie Seriously Considering Bid

Rush pre-emptively trashes Chris Christie

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/rush-limbaugh-pans-chris-christie

Our very own Joe Walsh (R-IL) is making a name for himself as one of the real extremists of the House GOP – and that’s saying something

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/joe-walsh-concealed-handguns-keep-govt-off-our-back.php
Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) told an audience in Illinois that he was ashamed of his state for not allowing concealed handguns, warning that they were the “last line of defense” if Americans need to revolt against their government. . . .

I like this idea

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/columnist-offers-fund-drug-tests-florida-law
Miami Herald columnist Carl Hiaasen told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Wednesday that he would be willing to pay for drug tests for the Florida lawmakers who voted to drug test welfare recipients. . . .

Bonus item: Onion parody gets Capitol police riled up

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/the-onion-roils-capitol-with-fictional-congress-perpetrated-hostage-situation.php
“Congress Takes Group of Schoolchildren Hostage”

Extra bonus item: Jon Stewart lampoons Sarah!s phony indecisiveness

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/bluegal-aka-fran/open-thread-jon-stewart-sarah-pal

***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.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 7:21 AM