THE END?

The end of the overblown Benghazi scandal?

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/24/two-top-republicans-support-nuland-nomination/
Two of the strongest Republican critics of the Obama administration’s handling of the attack on the diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, offered strong support nonetheless on Friday for the nomination of Victoria Nuland, who played a role in editing the much-disputed talking points about the incident. . . 

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/05/24/senate-republicans-praise-victoria-nuland

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/05/quizzical.php

The end of the game for Obamacare opponents?

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/05/sadly-republicans-obamacare-not-likely-be-train-wreck  

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/24/18473419-putting-the-train-wreck-on-hold

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/05/california_getting_obamacare_right.php

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_05/obamacare_in_california_revers044923.php

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/24/everything-you-know-about-employers-and-obamacare-is-wrong

GOPers still can't decide what their economic policies are

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/25/us/politics/approach-to-debt-widens-rift-among-gop-senators.html 

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/24/1203291/-Debt-limit-budget-fight-fracturing-GOP

Every now and then, John McCain really does act like a maverick

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/24/18469667-mccain-manages-to-surprise

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/05/why-john-mccain-hates-republicans-again.html

Meanwhile, trouble brewing for AG Eric Holder

http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/05/24/holder-approved-search-warrant-of-reporters-emails/

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/05/holder-investigated-media-he-now-wants-to-defend.html

Perjury? http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/05/24/did-attorney-general-eric-holder-lie-to-congress-under-oath/

Ted Cruz is creepy

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2013/05/ted_cruz_s_uncompromising_principles_the_texas_senator_s_aggressive_conservatism.html

Theocrat E.W. Jackson says that what he said "as a minister" doesn't matter now that he is a politician

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/ew-jackson-i-made-controversial-remarks-as-minister

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/24/1211472/-E-W-Jackson-explains-why-it-s-not-fair-to-use-his-own-words-against-him

http://dailycaller.com/2013/05/24/jackson-says-comments-were-about-moral-dilemma-abortion-presents

12 technologies that are going to change the world

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/24/these-12-technologies-will-drive-our-economic-future

In Fox World, THEY are the poor victims who others are tryng to silence

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/fox-news-host-tells-listeners-punch-obama-vo

Bonus item: Hey, maybe the world ISN'T going to hell

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/24/these-31-charts-will-destroy-your-faith-in-humanity/

Or maybe it is: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/hungry.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

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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.***

NOT QUITE

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/obama-defends-drone-strikes-but-says-no-cure-all.php 
Obama Declares End To Global War On Terror

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/24/opinion/obama-vows-to-end-of-the-perpetual-war.html
The End of the Perpetual War

Analysis: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_05/a_speech_being_chased_by_memes044912.php
A Speech Being Chased By Memes

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/05/23/obamas-speech-an-imperfect-effort-to-reconcile-national-security-with-american-values/
An imperfect effort to reconcile national security with American values

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/analysis-obama-expresses-regrets-but-seeks-to-retain-anti-terror-powers/2013/05/23/a99cc93c-c3de-11e2-914f-a7aba60512a7_story.html
Obama expresses regrets but seeks to retain anti-terror powers

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/world-report/2013/05/23/three-takeaways-from-president-obamas-terrorism-speech
Obama’s Terrorism Speech Was a Beginning, Not an End

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/05/obama-kinda-sorta-narrows-scope-war-terror
Obama Kinda Sorta Narrows the Scope of the War on Terror

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/05/obama-guards-his-left-over-terrorism.html
Obama Guards His Left Over Terrorism

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/23/18451126-this-war-like-all-wars-must-end
'This war, like all wars, must end'

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-0523-singer-obama-national-security-20130523,0,1236727.story
Finally, Obama breaks his silence on drones

http://www.emptywheel.net/2013/05/23/obamas-finger-is-on-the-trigger-except-where-it-matters
Obama’s Finger Is On the Trigger Except Where It Matters

http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2013/05/23/obamas-drone-speech-despite-pr-spin-america-not-shifting-away-from-treating-world-as-a-battlefield/
Despite PR Spin, America Not Shifting Away from Treating World as a Battlefield

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/view_from_chicago/2013/05/obama_s_speech_he_s_just_like_bush_in_pushing_the_limits_of_executive_power.html
Don’t be fooled by Obama’s speech. On executive power, he’s just like Bush.

Video: http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/05/23/obama-speech-on-terrorism-policies/

Text: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/read-transcript-of-obamas-speech-on-counterterrorism-policy

From the loyal opposition?

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/05/who_could_have_imagined.php
Who could have imagined that a Senator who came into office on a commercial morphing his opponent into Osama bin Laden would declare Obama speech a victory for terrorists.

More: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/24/18466808-obamas-national-security-strategy-receives-chilly-gop-reception

Some good news for Obamacare

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/24/wonkbook-some-very-good-news-for-obamacare/

Lois Lerner OUT at IRS

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/24/us/politics/irs-official-who-refused-to-testify-is-put-on-leave.html

Damn you, Harry

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/05/harry-reid-nuclear-option-immigration-reform.php
Harry Reid Downplays Nuclear Option Threats

Maybe this is why: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/23/1211234/-In-minor-McConnell-cave-on-filibuster-Srinivasan-wins-confirmation-in-Senate 

It's something

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/24/18467334-boy-scouts-to-end-discrimination-against-gay-kids
Boy Scouts to end discrimination against gay kids

How Fox does polling

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/23/18444814-adventures-in-fox-polling

And . . . voila! http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/21/fox-news-poll-obama-ratings-dip-voters-say-government-out-control/
[Fox News] After a week of revelations about government spying on reporters and the Internal Revenue Service targeting conservatives, most voters feel “like the federal government has gotten out of control and is threatening the basic civil liberties of Americans.”  . . .

Bonus item: Can't anybody shut this guy up?

http://occupyamerica.crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/rumsfeld-suggests-gay-marriage-could-l
Rumsfeld Suggests Gay Marriage Could Lead to Polygamy

***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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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.***

LESS THAN A FIFTH

Lois Lerner, the feckless, math-challenged IRS supervisor who took the Fifth before Congress yesterday, may have blown it by giving a long disclaimer first

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/issa-lerner-waived-fifth-amendment-right
Issa: Lerner Waived Fifth Amendment Right

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/05/22/did-lois-lerner-waive-her-right-to-invoke-the-fifth-amendment/
Did Lois Lerner waive her right to invoke the Fifth Amendment?

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/05/lerner-gowdy-waive-right-5th-amendment-irs.html
Expert: Lois Lerner Didn’t Waive Her Right to Plead the Fifth

The consensus is in: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/05/22/lois-lerner-has-to-go/
Lois Lerner has to go

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/05/she_has_to_go.php
She Has To Go

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/time-bring-ax-down-irs-official-lois-lerner
It's Time For IRS Official Lois Lerner To Resign

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/22/yes-heads-should-roll-at-the-irs
Yes, heads should roll at the IRS

Rush Limbaugh takes the high road

http://mediamatters.org/video/2013/05/22/limbaugh-on-irs-lois-lerner-im-telling-you-i-ca/194183
"I'm Telling You, I Can See Her With Whips And Chains"

Obama admin will finally explain what we've been doing in counterterrorism

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/05/obama-admits-to-killing-americans-with-drones.html
Obama Administration Admits to Killing Americans in Drone Strikes Everyone Already Knows About

http://www.emptywheel.net/2013/05/22/at-the-highest-levels-of-the-u-s-government-like-the-president
“At the Highest Levels of the U.S. Government”

More: http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2013/05/22/obama-admits-4-us-citizens-killed-by-drones-doesnt-explain-circumstances-around-those-not-targeted/
Deaths of Those Not Targeted Left Unexplained

http://prospect.org/article/three-questions-obama-needs-answer-tomorrows-speech
On Thursday, President Obama will be giving a major address on counterterrorism policy. Here are three major questions Obama needs to adequately address . . .

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke tells Congress to quit screwing around

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/22/bernanke-to-congress-seriously-guys-what-are-you-doing/

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/22/18427153-bernanke-urges-congress-to-get-smarter-on-economic-policy

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/22/1210987/-Bernanke-to-Congress-Enough-with-the-austerity-already

Harry Reid jacks up the rhetoric on filibuster reform. Is he really going to do something this time?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/05/22/harry-reid-escalates-nuclear-threat/
Harry Reid escalates 'nuclear' threat

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_05/on_the_road_to_war_over_the_fi044890.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/05/22/what-todays-nuclear-option-fight-means-for-filibuster-reform/

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/22/1210953/-Filibuster-fireworks-likely-for-nbsp-July

Mitch McConnell's got a meme, and he's riding it as hard as he can

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/05/mitch-mcconnell-harry-reid-filibuster-nuclear-option.php
“These continued threats to use the nuclear option point to the majority’s own culture of intimidation here in the Senate,” McConnell said, making a case that Republicans are using the filibuster responsibly. “Their view is that you had better confirm the people we want, when we want them, or we’ll break the rules of the Senate to change the rules so you can’t stop us. So much for respecting the rights of the minority.”

McConnell’s public indignation suggests that he takes Reid’s threats seriously. . . .

 

More: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/mitch-mcconnell-irs-scandal-91737.html

“I think what we know for sure is that there is a culture of intimidation across this administration — the president demonizing his enemies, attempting to shut people up. There is certainly a culture of intimidation,” McConnell said on Fox News. . . 

E.W. Jackson seems to have mastered the art of saying things that most people would decry as an outrage if a white person said it

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/05/ew-jackson-three-fifths-clause-slavery.php 
The Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in Virginia has called the Constitution’s original clause to count blacks as three-fifths of a person an “anti-slavery amendment.” . . .  [read on]

Bonus item: The military's struggle to combat sexual harassment is running into some serious problems . . .

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/soldier-charged-with-secretly-videotaping-women.php

Soldier Charged With Secretly Videotaping 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

To get PBD by email: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups#!forum/todays-news

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 MARS

In yet another example of the ongoing dilemma for the Repubs, the overheated rhetoric they need to use to keep their extremist wing motivated drives away everybody else. As a result, their chance to use the recent "scandals" against Obama seems to be drifting away

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/21/1210698/-GOP-aide-on-Benghazi-theater-You-ve-got-to-be-on-Mars-to-come-up-with-some-of-this-stuff
GOP aide on Benghazi theater: 'You’ve got to be on Mars to come up with some of this stuff'

More: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18402653-youve-got-to-be-on-mars-to-come-up-with-some-of-this-stuff 

Drifting away. . .

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/05/21/hatred-of-obama-could-lead-to-gop-overreach/
Hatred of Obama could lead to GOP overreach 

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/05/are-republicans-getting-ready-shoot-themselves-foot
Are Republicans Getting Ready to Shoot Themselves in the Foot?

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_05/more_evidence_the_narrative_ha044854.php

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/21/1210694/-As-scandalgate-fizzles-the-village-talks-overreach 

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/22/1210641/-Abbreviated-Pundit-Round-up-No-political-blood-in-the-water 

Unerringly wrong-footed instincts 

http://keller.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/21/bring-back-ken-starr
Bring Back Ken Starr 

They've found the main culprit behind the Benghazi talking points, and the Republicans won't be happy 

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/05/looking-benghazi-talking-points-villain-it-was-david-petraeus-not-barack-obama 

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/petraeuss-role-in-drafting-benghazi-talking-points-raises-questions/2013/05/21/db19f352-c165-11e2-ab60-67bba7be7813_story.html 

And the main culprit behind the IRS story is taking the Fifth 

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/irs-official-lois-lerner-will-plead-5th-amendment
“She has not committed any crime or made any misrepresentation but under the circumstances she has no choice but to take this course,” an attorney for Lois Lerner told committee Chairman Darrell Issa . . . [read on] 

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/05/pleading-the-fifth-lois-lerner-irs.html
Pleading the Fifth Doesn’t Make You Guilty

The real story behind the story: http://crooksandliars.com/dave-johnson/latest-lie-irs-targeted-conservatives
The corporate media is blasting out the story that the IRS "targeted conservative groups." Some in the media say there was "IRS harassment of conservative groups." Some of the media are going so far as claiming that conservative groups were "audited."

This story that is being repeated and treated as "true" is just not what happened at all. It is one more right-wing victimization fable, repeated endlessly until the public has no choice except to believe it. . . [read on]

Here come the lawsuits: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/05/21/conservative-group-true-the-vote-sues-irs-over-being-subject-to-heightened-scrutiny/

Yesterday I mistyped the name of the Fox News reporter who had his emails subpoenaed by the Obama admin: his name is James Rosen. But the other reporter, James Risen of the New York Times, introduces an interesting element to the story

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/eichenwald/2013/05/republicans-obama-fox-news-bush

Why Are Republicans So Riled Up About Obama’s Justice Department Reading a Reporter’s E-mails When They Cheered the Bush Administration For Doing the Same Thing?

More: http://www.salon.com/2011/06/23/risen_3/

http://blogs.reuters.com/jackshafer/2013/05/20/what-was-james-rosen-thinking/

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/05/at_the_risk_of_drawing.php

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/05/how-worlds-dullest-story-became-target-massive-leak-investigation

How the World's Dullest Story Became the Target of a Massive Leak Investigation

Some perspective on the inevitable tension between press freedom and national security

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fine-print-the-press-and-national-security/2013/05/20/04553d22-be3b-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html

[Walter Pincus] There is a natural tension between journalists and the government over national security. There are many examples of administrations misusing secrecy to hide failures or promote successes. And there may be as many times when bad stories hurt clandestine operations. . . . [read on!]

More: http://www.emptywheel.net/2013/05/21/the-laughable-currently-operative-ap-pushback-story/

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/05/calibrating_the_outrage-o-meter.php

More fights between the GOP crazies and the few remaining party pols who have some notion of actually, you know, governing

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/05/mccain-collins-slam-republicans-for-budget-hypocrisy.php

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/05/first_divide_then_conquer.php

Hell yeah!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/21/1210753/-Teachers-as-first-responders-as-protectors-and-as-heroes
Teachers as first responders, as protectors, and as heroes

Remember: http://dianeravitch.net/2012/12/17/the-hero-teachers-of-newtown/
 

I guess Tom Coburn (R-OK) doesn't want to be senator any more

http://americablog.com/2013/05/oklahoma-senator-coburn-says-no-tornado-aid-unless-cost-is-offset.html
Oklah. GOP Senator takes own constituents hostage, demands budget cuts or no tornado aid

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18396506-oklahomas-coburn-stakes-out-controversial-position-on-federal-aid

I guess not! http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/oklahoma-gop-sen-tom-coburn-will-seek-to

Coburn, who intends to retire in 2016 . . .

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/conservative-okla-lawmakers-face-dilemma-will-they-support-tornado-relief-funding/2013/05/21/e47b0468-c22d-11e2-9fe2-6ee52d0eb7c1_story.html

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/05/ok-senators-opposed-sandy-aid-want-tornado-aid.html

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/theres-hypocrisy-and-then-theres-inhofe.html
There's hypocrisy ... and then there's James Inhofe

African American candidate for Virginia Lt. Governor, E.W. Jackson, has an interesting background

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/05/virginia-lt-gov-candidate-fought-against-desegregation-efforts.php
E.W. Jackson, the Virginia GOP’s nominee for lieutenant governor, began his career as a minister and attorney in Boston. While there, he lent his support to a high-profile 1988 fight against a plan to desegregate public housing developments in the neighborhood of South Boston. . . .

Local news station WGBH filmed Jackson giving a speech at a July 1988 community meeting in South Boston hosted by opponents of the mayor’s desegregation plan. According to WGBH, at the event Jackson dismissed the desegregation plan as “social engineering.” In his remarks, Jackson characterized the matter as a question of freedom of choice.

“I am so tired of hearing the people of South Boston dumped on by the saviors of mankind that it makes me nauseous,” Jackson said of desegregation advocates. “I can understand the reaction of the people of South Boston apart from the racial issue because I don’t like being told by some bureaucrat how I’m going to live my life either.” . . .

The reporter who interviewed him also asked Jackson, who is African-American, if he felt as though he was being “used” by white politicians who opposed the desegregation plan. His response made it clear he fully supported their efforts.

“Well, the scripture says it’s a good thing to be used in a good cause,” Jackson said. [read on]

More: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/21/18399281-why-virginia-republicans-are-panicking
Why Virginia Republicans are 'panicking'

The NRA goes into the movie review business

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/05/nra_embraces_hollywood.php
Fresh off blaming Hollywood and the video gaming industry for extreme gun violence, the NRA is out with its top ten list of “coolest gun movies.” . . .

Bonus item: Everything you ever wanted to know about tornadoes

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/21/a-short-history-of-violent-tornadoes-in-the-united-states

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/21/why-are-tornadoes-so-hard-to-predict/

Extra bonus item: The video that is sweeping the Internet (don't miss it!)

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/21/1210658/-Woman-finds-her-dog-in-the-rubble-during-live-TV-interview

***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

To get PBD by email: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups#!forum/todays-news

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.***

POLL WATCHERS

(It's not part of our concern here, but our hearts go out to the victims of the massive tornado in Oklahoma City.)

I wonder how they keep their heads from exploding: Republicans try to wrap their minds around that fact that despite THREE scandals that are WORSE than Watergate and a totally CORRUPT administration that is like NIXON, or even more, like HITLER, Obama's popularity has gone . . . . UP while theirs has gone . . . . DOWN

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/20/1210510/-GOP-scandal-mongering-making-Obama-more-popular-GOP-much-less-so 

More: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/20/18376466-obamas-support-steady-during-firestorm

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/05/obama-scandals-approval-rating.php

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/05/20/cnn-poll-likability-helps-obama-survive-brutal-week/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/20/heres-why-the-scandals-arent-affecting-obamas-poll-numbers
Here’s why the ‘scandals’ aren’t affecting Obama’s poll numbers

Backlash? GOP starts to wonder if they've gone too far in their IRS conspiracy claims

http://prospect.org/article/conservatives-shift-gears-irs

More: http://prospect.org/article/irs-scandal-turning-out-be-less-dastardly-conservatives-think
IRS "Scandal" Turning Out to be Less Dastardly than Conservatives Think

Heh

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/05/21/obama-the-uniter-not-really/
Americans are deeply divided over President Obama’s ability to bring the country together . . .

The White House targets another reporter for going after classified leaks, this time James Risen from Fox News

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-rare-peek-into-a-justice-department-leak-probe/2013/05/19/0bc473de-be5e-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/21/us/politics/white-house-defends-tracking-fox-reporter.html

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/20/18378135-a-different-leak-a-different-probe-a-familiar-problem

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2013/05/james_rosen_named_a_co_conspirator_why_is_barack_obama_s_justice_department.html

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/05/tradecraft_it_aint.php

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/eric-holders-over-top-attack-journalism

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/05/obama-administration-read-fox-news-e-mails.html

http://www.emptywheel.net/2013/05/20/first-they-came-for-james-risen/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/05/20/leak-investigations-are-indeed-having-a-chilling-effect/

I always have to ask myself what sort of African American willingly chooses to affiliate with the Republican party: Herman Cain, Allen West, and now ladies and gentlemen the worst of them all . . . E.W. Jackson

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/05/new-crazy-black-republican-crazier-than-ever.html 

http://americablog.com/2013/05/e-w-jackson-virginia-gays-kkk-planned-parenthood-muslim.html

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/05/20/18375923-getting-to-know-ew-jackson 

More: http://prospect.org/article/virginia-gop-says-yolo-nominates-most-conservative-ticket-ever

More from Virginia

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/va-gops-attorney-general-nominee-wanted-women-to
VA GOP’s Attorney General Nominee Wanted Women To Report Miscarriages To Police Or Face Jail Time

The Secret Service wants to talk to the hate-radio DJ who wants to "shoot Hillary Clinton in the vagina"

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/05/secret-service-looking-into-radio-host-after-graphic-violent-comments-about-obama-hillary-clinton.php

Bonus item: How the Koch Bros tried to bully public television

http://occupyamerica.crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/public-tv-tried-placate-david-koch

More: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/05/27/130527fa_fact_mayer

***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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BELT TIGHTENING

Paul Krugman demolishes austerity economics

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2013/jun/06/how-case-austerity-has-crumbled/

More: http://firedoglake.com/2013/05/19/government-by-platitude/ 

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_05/qotd_if_austerity_was_a_clinic044827.php 

Darrell Issa (R-CA) is a really, really bad guy

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/19/1209858/-Welcome-to-the-Darrell-Issa-Hall-of-Shame

Jonathan Karl, ABC News, won't out the Republican(s) who fed him doctored emails

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/maddow-fair-game-disclose-names-republican

More: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/05/the_latest_turn_of_the_screw.php

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/what-do-jonathan-karl-and-james-okeefe.html

With a straight face, David Gregory asks Donald Rumsfeld about accountability

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/gregory-asks-war-criminal-rumsfeld-thought

In case you missed the Sunday talk shows

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/19/sunday-morning-liveblog_n_3300771.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/05/19/sunday-show-roundup-pfeiffer-defends-obama-as-gop-criticism-continues/

Bonus item: How stupid and anti-science are the theocrats? The Bible tells them that the moon emits light (and doesn't just reflect the sun, as every grade schooler knows). Don't miss this one!

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/next-theyll-be-telling-its-not-made-out.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

To get PBD by email: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups#!forum/todays-news

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.***