Wednesday, May 28, 2014

THE END?

The end of the tunnel in Afghanistan?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/05/27/were-finally-leaving-afghanistan-soon-anyway/

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/obama-outlines-plan-us-troops

Conservatives howl: http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/05/some-13-years-still-not-long-enough-afghanistan

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/05/krauthammer-calls-obamas-troop-withdrawal
Krauthammer Calls Obama's Troop Withdrawal Plan "An Act Of Personal Narcissism"

http://www.vox.com/2014/5/27/5755072/obamas-drawdown-taliban-has-won
The Taliban has won

Obama to act unilaterally on climate change

http://prospect.org/article/how-conservatives-will-react-obamas-new-climate-regulations

Lindsey Graham thinks the Repubs need a modern version of the Contract With America. His colleagues disagree

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/huckleberrys-revolution.html

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/27/1300460/-Senate-GOP-leaders-not-eager-to-reveal-governing-agenda
Senate GOP leaders not eager to reveal governing agenda

http://prospect.org/article/seductive-allure-ideas
Here's the truth: Make a contract, don't make a contract, it won't make any difference to the outcome of the election. If you think there's some large number of undecided voters out there saying, "I'm thinking of voting Republican this year, but I'd just like to learn a bit more about what their agenda is—maybe with some kind of bulleted document," then you don't know much about American elections. When it comes to the ballot box, ideas are vastly overrated. . . . 

What their "ideas" actually are

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/27/the_rights_new_horror_show_what_reform_conservatives_are_really_peddling/

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_05/defining_moments_for_the_tea_p050519.php

Can the Dems keep the Senate?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/05/27/morning-plum-how-dems-hope-to-hang-on-to-the-senate/

More: http://www.vox.com/2014/5/28/5754042/pelosi-were-not-running-on-or-from-the-affordable-care-act
Democrats don’t believe they can win on Obamacare

Kark Rove looks for a new line of Hillary bashing

Is it ethical for doctors to participate in executions?

Consequences

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/05/real-estate-company-dumps-fox-news
Real Estate Company Dumps Fox News Psychologist After Her UCSB Remarks

More from Fox World: http://crooksandliars.com/2014/05/erik-erickson-claims-war-masculinity
Erik Erickson Claims 'War On Masculinity' Caused UCSB Rampage

Bonus item: Whee!

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/27/7_worst_right_wing_moments_of_the_week_%E2%80%94%C2%A0ann_coulters_climate_change_insanity_partner/
7 worst right-wing moments of the week
 
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Tuesday, May 27, 2014

SICK SICK SICK

The creepiest thing about the Santa Barbara shooting have been the reactions to it

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/05/sick-idiots-create-elliot-rodgers-fansites
Sick Idiots Create Elliot Rodgers Fansites

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/05/24/elliot_rodger_the_pick_up_artist_community_s_predictable_horrible_response.html
Rodger’s language is familiar to anyone who’s spent time exploring the Pick-Up Artist or Men’s Rights Activist communities. Rodger was a “Nice Guy,” a man who feels he is entitled to sex based on positive personality traits known only to him.  (“I've wanted love, affection, adoration. You think I’m unworthy of it. That's a crime that can never be forgiven,” he said). He aspired to be an “Alpha," the most attractive, dominant man in his group, but felt he’s been wrongly dismissed as an inferior “Beta.” Pick-Up Artists, by the way, refer to women they would like to have sex with as their “targets.” . . .

More: http://www.salon.com/2014/05/25/elliot_rodgers_fatal_menace_how_toxic_male_entitlement_devalues_womens_and_mens_lives/

http://prospect.org/article/how-pick-artist-philosophy-and-its-more-misogynist-backlash-shaped-mind-alleged-killer
 
http://prospect.org/article/look-inside-mens-rights-movement-helped-fuel-california-alleged-killer-elliot-rodger
 
 http://gawker.com/rap-genius-co-founders-creepy-comments-on-elliot-rodger-1581469310

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/05/right-thinking-wingers-todd-kincannon
"No idea how my son will die, but I know it won't be cowering like a bitch at UC Santa Barbara. Any son of mine would have been shooting back."

Who's to blame for the VA mess?

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/05/fox-analyst-va-controversy-where-was
“Where Was The Outrage During The Bush Years?”

More: http://www.nationalmemo.com/vote-vets-chair-jon-soltz-critics-demanding-shinseki-resignation-hypocrites/

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/26/partisan_politics_at_its_worst_inside_the_conservative_assault_on_the_va/

The GOP prepares for life after Obama

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/26/what_happens_to_the_gop_after_obama/

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/26/1301215/-Republican-voter-explains-why-she-s-against-Obamacare-Because-I-can-t-stand-the-president
Republican voter explains why she's against Obamacare: 'Because I can't stand the president'

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/obamacare-debate-questions-gop
The Toughest Questions The GOP Should Have To Answer On Obamacare

Koch addiction

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/26/1300748/-The-seeds-of-the-Koch-political-empire-sowed-in-1980-campaign
How did the Kochs become the Kochs, politically? . . 

A trip around the world

http://www.vox.com/2014/5/26/5750410/european-parliament-elections
There's a far-right surge in the European Parliament 

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/05/white-house-publicizes-cia-chiefs-name.html
The White House Accidentally Publicized the Name of the CIA's Chief Spy in Afghanistan

http://news.firedoglake.com/2014/05/26/west-ukraine-elects-oligarch-president-east-stays-home/
West Ukraine Elects Oligarch President, East Stays Home

http://www.vox.com/2014/5/26/5752324/is-putin-losing-control-of-ukraines-pro-russia-rebels
Is Putin losing control of Ukraine's pro-Russia rebels?

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2014/05/ukraine_vladimir_putin_and_petro_poroshenko_did_the_crisis_in_eastern_ukraine.html
Did Peace Just Break Out in Ukraine?

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/26/3_things_everyone_should_know_about_ukraine/
3 things everyone should know about Ukraine 

The kind of people they are

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/bill-weisenberger-accused-racial-abuse
A Mississippi judge allegedly slapped a young mentally disabled black man earlier this month at a flea market and yelled "run, n----, run" . . .

Theocracy watch

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/26/neil_degrasse_tyson_vs_the_right_cosmos_christians_and_the_battle_for_american_science/
Neil deGrasse Tyson vs. the right: “Cosmos,” Christians, and the battle for American science 

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_05/thats_all_they_do_is_compromis050510.php

The Internet as we know it is dying
***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.***

Monday, May 26, 2014

OH NO


Killing rampage in Santa Barbara shocks the nation

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/i-will-slaughter-every-single-spoiled-stuck-up-blond-slut
"I will Slaughter Every Single Spoiled, Stuck-Up Blond Slut ..."

More: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/05/three-bodies-found-in-elliot-rodgers-home.html
Among the evidence was also a 141-page document titled “My Twisted World: The Story of Elliot Rodger.” Similar to the collection of videos found on Rodger's YouTube channel, the manifesto contains the biographical details of his life, descriptions of loneliness, alienation, and violent rage at his peers, particularly women. . . .
 
In Santa Barbara, California, a man shot killed six people and injured seven more. And in the wake of the mass-murder, people have been trying to figure out why the alleged gunman, a 22-year-old named Elliot Rodger, went berserk. For some inexplicable reason, there are people who want to place the blame on the women who didn't date him. . . .
 
Eight facts about violence against women everyone should know

In Fox World: http://crooksandliars.com/2014/05/fox-news-expert-homosexual-impulses
Fox News 'Expert': 'Homosexual Impulses' Probably Triggered Calif. Mass Shooting  

Meanwhile . . .

http://www.vox.com/2014/5/25/5735998/the-nra-has-been-blocking-a-nominee-for-surgeon-general-since-february
The NRA has been blocking a nominee for surgeon general since February

Didn't know that

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-supreme-court-secretly-revises-its.html
The Supreme Court secretly revises its opinions

Numbers of the day

http://www.vox.com/2014/5/25/5750044/an-amazing-chart-showing-global-military-spending
An amazing chart showing global military spending
 
On MSNBC


***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.***

Sunday, May 25, 2014

THE STUPIDS

The Stupid Party

How Republicans became the “stupid” party: Turning right, refusing to recognize facts and change 

Is the fight over marriage equality settled? Some people refuse to recognize the inevitability

http://www.vox.com/2014/5/24/5742888/a-complete-victory-for-marriage-equality-could-be-a-year-away
A complete victory for marriage equality could be a year away

Still fighting: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/22/1301161/-Evangelical-leader-Time-for-new-tactics-but-no-surrender-in-fight-against-marriage-equality
Evangelical leader: Time for new tactics, but no surrender, in fight against marriage equality

http://justiceforall.firedoglake.com/2014/05/21/tony-perkins-thinks-america-will-discard-judges-rulings-for-marriage-equality/
Tony Perkins thinks America will ‘discard’ judges’ rulings for marriage equality

Washington is broken. Here's how it happened

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/what-broke-washington/2014/05/23/57e67ba2-e033-11e3-810f-764fe508b82d_story.html
It’s time to stop taking Washington seriously. How likely is it that Congress will deal with unsustainable deficits, climate change, decrepit infrastructure, unaffordable health care, muddled immigration policy, obsolete laws, unmanageable civil service, rigged electoral districts . . . ? The list of failures of our democratic government is getting long. Responsible reform seems hopeless.  

But hopelessness, it turns out, has its own political arc. Most change comes not incrementally, but in large gulps after long periods of inertia . . . [read on]

Fox World, ignoring history

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/24/the_fake_patriotism_of_fox_news_what_the_right_doesnt_understand_about_memorial_day/

The Sunday talk show line-ups

http://my.firedoglake.com/elliott/2014/05/25/sunday-talking-heads-may-25-2014/
ABC’S THIS WEEK: Martha Raddatz hosts. The VA scandal with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff. Then, the Chinese cyberspying arrests with former ambassador to China Jon Huntsman and ABC contributor Steve Ganyard of Avascent International. Roundtable: Matthew Dowd, Ana Navarro, David Plouffe, Kristen Soltis Anderson. Then a discussion about the battle for Sadr City “we are there as the men who fought in the battle reunite.” Finally, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Martin Dempsey. Bill Moyers interviews  

CBS’ FACE THE NATION: “We’re going to spend a good deal of time this Sunday on Face the Nation talking about the ongoing inquiry into the Veterans Affairs department” with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Sen. John Thune (R-SD). Plus, Ben Carson. Memorial Day/VA Roundtable: Dana Priest, David Finkel, Tom Manion. Then, the drug ‘em up and send ‘em back in lawsuit against the NFL with players attorney Steve Silverman, Jarrett Bell of USA Today, and Sean Gregory of TIME. The show ends with commencement speech wisdom.  

CNN’S STATE OF THE UNION: VA scandal with the chairs of the Senate and House Veteran Affairs Committees, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL). Then, Horse Race 2016 with Gov. Mike Pence (R-IN). Roundtable: Penny Lee, Corey Dade, and Alex Castellanos “on the optics of a presidential multitasker.” And a Memorial Day interview with Wes Moore, “Army veteran, advocate, and filmmaker on his mission to highlight the troubles veterans face re-adjusting to life back home.”

MEET THE PRESS: Preempted by Formula One racing
 
MOYERS & COMPANY: Facing the Truth: The Case for Reparations. Ta-Nehisi Coates, a senior editor for The Atlantic about his cover story on why America needs to reconcile with its racist past.   

Bonus item: Is going to college still worth it? (The answer is, "yes, but . . . .")

***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.***

Saturday, May 24, 2014

ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS

Show us the money!

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/24/us/politics/gop-sues-in-effort-to-raise-unlimited-cash-from-individuals.html
G.O.P. Sues for a Loophole to Raise Unlimited Money From Individuals

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/23/1301470/-GOP-files-paperwork-to-become-wholly-owned-subsidiary-of-Koch-Industries


So Mitch McConnell has a problem: he has to say he is out to destroy Obamacare, but Kentucky has an extremely effective and popular exchange program under the law. So what does he say?

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/mcconnell-says-ky-exchange-unconnected-to-obamacare

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/23/1301509/-McConnell-says-new-Kentucky-health-exchange-unconnected-to-Obamacare

More: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/mcconnell-sees-distinction-between-aca

What ELSE Obamacare does

http://www.vox.com/2014/5/23/5735674/21-things-you-never-knew-obamacare-did 
21 things Obamacare does that you didn't know about 

Obamacare and race

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/05/23/yes-opposition-to-obamacare-is-tied-up-with-race/   
Yes, opposition to Obamacare is tied up with race

More: http://www.vox.com/2014/5/23/5744530/racists-are-likelier-to-oppose-health-reform-when-they-think-about

A trip around the world

Thailand: http://www.vox.com/2014/5/23/5744680/9-questions-about-thailand-you-were-too-embarrassed-to-ask

Ukraine: http://www.vox.com/2014/5/23/5745836/one-of-the-worst-things-that-could-happen-in-the-ukraine-crisis-just

Russia-China relations: http://www.vox.com/2014/5/23/5741362/russia-china-pipedream-alliance 

Will this work?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/24/us/politics/kerry-agrees-to-testify-on-benghazi-with-caveats.html
Secretary of State John Kerry agreed on Friday to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform over the 2012 attacks on the American diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, possibly exacerbating tensions between Republicans over competing inquiries.  

In a letter to Representative Darrell Issa, Republican of California, the committee’s combative chairman, the State Department’s assistant secretary for legislative affairs, Julia Frifield, appeared to go out of her way to pit Mr. Issa’s investigation into the attacks against a new one being conducted by a select committee appointed by Speaker John A. Boehner. . . .

No, both sides AREN'T to blame

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/05/23/morning-plum-obama-slams-both-sides-to-blame-media/

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/23/obama_slams_medias_gop_coddling_false_equivalence/

A man who will say ANYTHING

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/23/1301511/-Sen-Ted-Cruz-says-Democrats-plan-to-repeal-the-First-Amendment
Sen. Ted Cruz says Democrats plan to 'repeal the First Amendment' 

Bonus item: Gun nuts

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/scaring-the-crap-out-of-people-doesnt-win-you-fans
Earlier this week we reported how Chipotle felt obliged to ask its customers not to bring guns to chipotle restaurants. Seems like a reasonably enough request to most of us. And it's been preceded by similar requests by various other chains like Starbucks and others.  

Now the top pro-gun group in Texas pushing the demand for "open carry" firearm rights and trying to get people to show up at various restaurant chains with long guns is deciding it may not be such a hot idea after all. . . .
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Friday, May 23, 2014

INQUIRING MINDS

Darrell Issa leaks an email that inadvertently HELPS the White House case on Benghazi
Bonus item: What liberals and conservatives think is funny

http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/05/what-makes-conservatives-laugh.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.***

Thursday, May 22, 2014

VETERANS AFFAIRS

A real scandal 

http://wonkwire.rollcall.com/2014/05/21/veterans-affairs-debacle-authentic-scandal/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/05/21/a-guide-to-the-va-and-the-scandals-engulfing-it/?wprss=rss_politics&clsrd 

More: http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/obama-faces-feeding-frenzy-over-va-scandal-n110916

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/21/obama-let-the-va-scandal-become-a-political-circus.html 

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/05/va  

The Dems decide to appoint members to the Benghazi panel

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/22/us/politics/bucking-deputies-pelosi-picks-5-democrats-for-benghazi-panel.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Representative Nancy Pelosi of California on Wednesday appointed a full slate of senior House Democrats to a special committee investigating the 2012 attack on the diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, surprising some in her party by giving legitimacy to an inquiry many had dismissed as a political stunt. . . . 

The Tea Party "gimmick" 

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/22/tea_party_gimmick_gets_exposed_why_it_was_always_a_tool_of_the_republicans/

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/05/rich-the-goptea-party-merger-is-complete.html

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/05/tea-party-dead-long-live-tea-party 

Your daily Christie 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/21/nyregion/ex-aide-tells-of-tabs-kept-on-mayor-of-fort-lee.html?_r=0
The administration of Gov. Chris Christie worked to cultivate Fort Lee’s mayor for at least a year and a half before lanes were closed at the George Washington Bridge in an act of political retribution, according to testimony from a former aide to the governor on Tuesday.  

The description of the efforts to woo the mayor seemed to run contrary to the governor’s statement after the lane closings exploded into a scandal in January that Mayor Mark Sokolich had never been on his “radar screen. . . . 

Koch addiction 

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/05/koch-brothers-exposed-damning-indictment 

The Grand Old Party 

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/its-not-your-imagination-republicans.html
It's not your imagination. Republicans are becoming more racist

More: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/22/the-roots-of-the-gop-s-race-problem.html

GOPer: the Common Core will make kids gay
Bonus item: Clean jeans?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/21/levi-s-ceo-chip-bergh-hasn-t-washed-his-jeans-in-a-year-and-that-s-perfectly-fine.html
On Tuesday, Chip Bergh, CEO of American denim pioneer Levi Strauss & Co. admitted that the jeans he was wearing while speaking at Fortune’s ‘Brainstorm Green’ conference hadn’t been washed since he purchased them over a year ago. . . .

http://www.vox.com/2014/5/21/5738014/sorry-levis-you-cant-clean-your-jeans-by-freezing-them
Sorry, Levi's: you can't clean your jeans by freezing them

***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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