The post The nothing Republican agenda: Progressive Blog Digest appeared first on Occasional Planet.
]]>This daily blog is composed of clips and links from other progressive blog and news sites, accompanied by my own observations. It documents the failure and decline of the Republican party and the efforts of the Obama administration to build a new, lasting Democratic coalition.
Nothing from nothing leaves nothing
GOP’s pitiful, non-existent agenda: Salon.com
Having already done nothing, House GOP plans more doing nothing: Daily Kos
GOP leaders hope to maintain party unity by doing nothing for the rest of the year : Salon.com
Policy tradeoffs: what would YOU do?
CBO: Obama’s minimum wage plan would cost jobs but help millions: Washington Post
Does Obama have a CBO problem? :The Week
Millions of families would benefit from increase in minimum wage: Mother Jones
Your daily Christie
New heights for the big sleazy: Talking Points Memo
Bobby Jindal tries again to re-launch his feckless presidential campaign
Bobby Jindal relaunches himself one more time: Talking Points Memo
Jindal among least popular governors: Political Wire
One Pol Who Is Definitely Out of Touch: Washington Monthly
Yesterday we had George Zimmerman whining that HE’S the victim. Now Michael Dunn goes one step farther
Michael Dunn compares himself to rape victim: New York Magazine
In Fox World: Hillary’s “War on Women”
Fox brings Clinton conspiracy theorist: Crooks and Liars
Bonus item: Inside a frat party for the Wall Street elite. Don’t miss it!
One-percent jokes and plutocrats in drag: What I saw when I crashed a Wall Street secret society: New York Magazine
Filthy rich but secretly terrified: Inside the one percent’s sore winner backlash: Salon.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.
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]]>Rough times for Chris Christie: first, as chair of the Republican Governors Association he’s visiting states to raise money. Problem is, Republican Governors don’t want to be seen with him.
The embattled GOP governor gets a chilly reception in the Lone Star State: Salon
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is coming to Florida to help fundraiser for FL Gov. Rick Scott in Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. The venues are like a state-held secret now that Christie is taking fire over “Bridgegate.” – Miami Herald/Naked Politics
Keeping Christie at arms’ length: Rachel Maddow Show
Republicans are distancing themselves from Chris Christie and it’s all the Democrat’s fault: Daily Kos
But it gets worse
Rachel and her crew catch him in a lie, or at least a serious inconsistency, in his story about the GW bridge lane closures — when he found out about it, and what (if anything) he did about it: MSNBC
Christie’s Evolving Answers On When He Knew About The Bridge Closures: Talking Points memo
Progressive Blog Digest is a daily blog is composed of clips and links from other progressive blog and news sites, accompanied by my own observations. It documents the failure and decline of the Republican party and the efforts of the Obama administration to build a new, lasting Democratic coalition. To see the rest of today’s clips, click here.
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]]>The post State of the Union: Progressive Blog Digest appeared first on Occasional Planet.
]]>This daily blog is composed of clips and links from other progressive blog and news sites, accompanied by my own observations. Progressive Blog Digest documents the failure and decline of the Republican party and the efforts of the Obama administration to build a new, lasting Democratic coalition.
Five best moments: Daily Beast
Other highlights: New York Magazine
Reaction to the State of the Union: Political Wire
Analyses–What Obama Is Really Trying to Do in the State of the Union Address: New York Magazine
Here are 7 policies Obama just said he’d pursue without Congress : Washington Post
For all of his talk of action, President Obama offered nothing but modest proposals: Slate
“This wasn’t the presidency Barack Obama had in mind after winning his historic election five years ago. But it is the one he believes he has left,” the Washington Post reports: Political Wire
Relaxed, Good-Natured, and Pretty Effective: Mother Jones
Full text and video: New York Times
The best five SOTUs: Washington Post
Top five
Top five things Republicans hated in the State of the Union speech: Daily Kos
“The hardest day of the year”
Maintaining his composure during the State of the Union — while sitting on camera and directly behind the president as Obama delivers his remarks — makes for the “hardest day of the year,” Boehner said. : Rollcall
All the Republican responses
When one response becomes five: Rachel Maddow Show
It’s not the President’s speech that makes news, but the reactions to it: Daily Beast
Republican responses: Washington Monthly
More Republican responses: Daily Kos
Including this response
GOP congressman calls Obama a ‘Socialist dictator’: Washington Post
Boehner warns Obama
Boehner warns Obama not to go around Congress: Political Wire
Boehner’s brick wall: Washington Monthly
What the Republicans want to do
House Republicans vote to ban abortion coverage that’s not in Obamacare: Daily Kos
Republicans have an Obamacare replacement. Economists will love it, real people won’t: Wonkblog
Republican incoherence on immigration, nicely summarized: Daily Kos
Republicans still being dicks: Daily Kos
The kind of people they are
Well here’s something you don’t see every day. A New York congressman threatening a reporter live on air: Crooks and Liars
See the rest of today’s clips at Progressive Blog Digest.
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]]>The post Progressive Blog Digest: Girl talk appeared first on Occasional Planet.
]]>This daily blog, Progressive Blog Digest, is composed of clips and links from other progressive blog and news sites, accompanied by my own observations. It documents the failure and decline of the Republican party and the efforts of the Obama administration to build a new, lasting Democratic coalition.
Something happens to Republican men when they talk about women and sex
GOP’s Huckabee on birth control: Federal government shouldn’t help women who can’t control their libido
Huckabee on the female sex drive
Why women do not love Mike Huckabee: Daily Beast:
Tony Perkins blames President Obama for campus sexual assault crisis in bizarre rant
Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) has a new book in which the congressman argues a wife is to “voluntarily submit.” . . .Rachel Maddow
Rick Santorum defends Mike Huckabee rant
Wow. Bob McDonnell had a chance to plea bargain, to protect his wife. He refused.
Follow the money, cherchez la femme
Here’s a word you never want to hear: subpoena
Christie’s bridge scandal generates new federal subpoenas
Christie campaign, NJ GOP subpoenaed by U.S. Attorney: Daily Kos
Aides back Hoboken mayor’s story: Daily Kos
More bad news for Chris Christie: Salon
The man behind the Chris Christie probe: Crooks and Liars
One of the things we’re learning about Tea Party candidates: people this crazy about their political views are often . . . errr . . . unreliable in other respects too
Steve Stockman Goes Missing: Daily Kos
Tea Party firebrand Steve Stockman may be running the worst primary campaign ever: Salon
One-time conservative wunderkind Dinesh D’Souza has crashed and burned: Talking Points Memo
Dinesh D’Souza’s series o unfortunate events: Daily Beast
The Heritage Foundation: back from the brink?
Heritage Foundation hires Stephen Moore: Talking Points Memo
Stephen Moore to the rescue: Washington Monthly
Bonus item: What John Boehner really thinks: Daily Beast
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]]>The post Extending unemployment payments — a matter of fairness: Progressive Blog Digest appeared first on Occasional Planet.
]]>The Senate passes unemployment payments, Obama ramps up the pressure. What will the House Repubs do? See today’s full Progressive Blog Digest here.
The Senate:
http://blogs.rollcall.com/wgdb/unemployment-insurance-advances-senate/ http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/01/07/1267814/-Unemployment-aid-moves-forward-nbsp-in-nbsp-Senate http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/07/unemployment-benefits-senate-vote_n_4554728.html http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/jobless-aid-advances-despite-gop-obstruction http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/01/07/a-surprising-step-forward-for-unemployment-benefits/
Obama:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/07/obama-to-congress-do-your-job-and-extend-unemployment-benefits.html http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/01/07/1267823/-President-Obama-pushes-for-unemployment-benefits-extension
The House:
House Republican leaders sent a memo this week to the entire GOP conference with talking points designed to help rank-and-file Republicans show compassion for the unemployed and explain the Republican position on unemployment benefits. . . .
http://www.salon.com/2014/01/07/gop_is_losing_on_unemployment_insurance_and_running_scared/
GOP is losing on unemployment insurance — and running scared
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/01/how-democrats-can-pass-unemployment-benefits.html
How Democrats Can Force Republicans to Help the Unemployed
http://www.salon.com/2014/01/07/gops_sense_of_disdain_senator_behind_unemployment_benefits_bill_sounds_off/
GOP’s “sense of disdain”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/01/07/morning-plum-republicans-reframing-fight-over-unemployment-benefits/
With the three month extension of unemployment benefits set for a Senate vote this morning, multiple Republicans are going all in on the suggestion that they would support extending benefits if only it were paid for. Republicans want to reframe this as a battle over how to pay for extending benefits, not over whether to extend them at all . . .
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_01/boehner_raises_the_price_of_ui048528.php
Boehner Raises the Price of UI Extension to the Skies
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/01/07/the-senate-is-debating-unemployment-benefits-here-are-seven-things-they-should-know/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
Congress is debating unemployment benefits. Here are seven things they should know.
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]]>The post The budget deal: Progressive Blog Digest appeared first on Occasional Planet.
]]>Conservatives are balking at the budget deal. Plus links to other issues featured on progressive blogs. See today’s full Progressive Blog Digest here.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/daily/can-paul-ryan-put-down-a-revolt-from-the-right-20131210
Can Paul Ryan Put Down a Revolt From the Right?
http://prospect.org/article/conservative-anger-over-budget-deal-now-purely-save-face
Conservative Anger Over Budget Deal Now Purely to Save Face
John Boehner blows up: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/boehner-finally-loses-temper-on-tea-party
“You mean the groups that came out and opposed it before they ever saw it? They’re using our members and they’re using the American people for their own goals. This is
ridiculous.”
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2013/12/john_boehner_goes_after_heritage_action_and_club_for_growth_house_speaker.html
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/12/john-boehner-slams-conservative-groups-this-is-ridiculous.html
Still learning more about the fine print in the deal
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/12/11/deal_limits_senate_gops_ability_to_block_tax_hikes.html
Deal Limits Senate GOP’s Ability to Block Tax Hikes
Interpreting the GOP “civil war”
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/what-s-really-going-on-with-the-republican-civil-war
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_12/ikes_not_coming_back048152.php
Here’s the fact: the Republicans — with a big assist from the Obama admin — have largely succeeded in winning the discussion on deficits and budget
cuts
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/12/war-over-austerity-over-republicans-won
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]]>The post Obama talks about inequality: Progressive Blog Digest appeared first on Occasional Planet.
]]>The best speech Obama has given on the economy, plus other items posted on progressive blogs today.
More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/12/04/inequality-is-the-defining-issue-of-our-time/ http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/income-inequality-riskier-you-think
Really Obama? That’s All You’ve Got?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/05/the-truth-about-obama-era-inequality.html
The president calls income inequality the ‘defining issue of our time.’ So it seems fair to grade him on his success at addressing it. By any measure, he has failed spectacularly.
Growing numbers get health care coverage
About 29,000 people successfully navigated HealthCare.gov and selected an insurance plan on Sunday and Monday, more than the entire number of people who were able to enroll through the federal exchange during the month of October . . .
More: http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2013/12/04/most-uninsured-still-plan-to-get-coverage/
Most Uninsured Still Plan to Get Coverage
Few uninsured young people say they’ll sign up for Obamacare
Meanwhile: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/gop-healthcaregov-who-cares
Republicans aren’t impressed with the Obama administration’s claim that HealthCare.gov is now effectively fixed. That’s not really the issue, they’ve started to say. No, the problem is canceled policies, lost doctors and higher premiums. Who cares if the website is working?
That is a far cry from the early days of October when a dysfunctional website was “proof” that Obamacare “has been an unmitigated disaster” in the words of House Speaker John Boehner in an Oct. 4 statement. But that’s no longer the preferred talking point. . .
Are we getting used to this yet?
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/12/nsa-tracks-cell-phone-locations.html
The NSA Tracks Billions of Cell Phone Locations Every Day
The Republicans howl about the need to reduce entitlements. But that doesn’t prevent them from repeatedly attacking Dems with the false claim that they’re “cutting” Medicare
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/12/04/first-on-cnn-republicans-bring-back-medicare-attack/
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]]>The post Obamacare has a second chance to get it right: Progressive Blog Digest appeared first on Occasional Planet.
]]>A roundup of what progressive blogs are saying about today’s issues:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/30/obama-health-care-reform_n_4361679.html
More: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/11/30/inside_the_effort_to_rescue_obamacare.html
Inside the Effort to Rescue Obamacare
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/11/30/healthcare_website_still_improving.html
Healthcare Website Still Improving
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_11/yes_the_immediate_outlook_on_h048007.php
The immediate outlook on the HealthCare.gov site? Murky at best. But long-term prospects for the ACA are sound.
SIX PER CENT!
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/11/30/congressional_approval_hits_new_low.html
Congressional Approval Hits New Low
More things to be thankful for
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/30/1257343/-Rep-Darrell-Issa-is-very-bad-at-his-job
Rep. Darrell Issa is very bad at his job
More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/30/1256570/-This-would-be-a-scandal-but-only-if-it-were-true
This would be a scandal, but only if it were true
The Sunday talk show line-ups
http://my.firedoglake.com/elliott/2013/11/30/sunday-talking-heads-december-1-2013/
ABC’S THIS WEEK: Iran, Afghanistan with Former Obama national security adviser Tom Donilon. Roundtable: Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan, and former Obama White House Senior Adviser David Plouffe, now an ABC News and Bloomberg News contributor. Football Concussions Roundtable: ABC News Chief Health and Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser, USA Today columnist and ABC News consultant Christine Brennan, ESPN investigative reporter Mark Fainaru-Wada, co-author of “League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions and the Battle for Truth”, and former Buffalo Bills offensive lineman and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Joe DeLamielleure. Sunday Spotlight: U2 lead singer Bono on World AIDS Day.
CBS’ FACE THE NATION: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Ranking Member Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN). Then, Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) and his new book “Unintimidated.” “Plus, we’ll get analysis of the week’s news from William Kristol of The Weekly Standard and former White House Chief of Staff under President Obama, Bill Daley.” Plus, Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of “The Bully Pulpit,” A. Scott Berg, author of “Wilson” and Peter Baker, author of “Days of Fire.”
CNN’S STATE OF THE UNION: Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean and Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum on the latest Supreme Court Challenge to Obamacare. Then terror threats with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI). Roundtable: Kevin Madden, Donna Brazile, Corey Dade of TheRoot.com.
MOYERS & COMPANY: Encore: Wendell Berry, Poet & Prophet. In a rare television interview, environmental legend and writer Wendell Berry leaves his Kentucky farm for an inspiring conversation.
NBC’S MEET THE PRESS: Chair of the House Intelligence Committee Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) and Ranking Member of the Budget Committee Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). Then, former Healthcare Adviser to President Obama and Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel. Roundtable: David Brooks, Democratic Mayor of Baltimore Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Andrea Mitchell, Chuck Todd.
Bonus item: Thought piece of the day
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/01/the-big-idea-why-canada-and-u-s-should-merge.html
Why Canada and U.S. Should Merge
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]]>The post Reactions–left and right–to the Iran deal: Progressive Blog Digest appeared first on Occasional Planet.
]]>Editor’s note: Here’s a look at how the left and the right are reacting to the agreement between Iran and the P5+1 [UN Security Council permanent five nations, plus Germany] to a moratorium on nuclear weapons production. This is an excerpt from the daily Progressive Blog Digest. Read the full feed, with additional links, here.
Left
http://my.firedoglake.com/fairleft/2013/11/24/can-the-left-handle-iran-nuclear-deal-good-news/
Can the left handle Iran nuclear deal good news?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/24/why-the-iranian-nuclear-deal-is-dangerous.html
Why the Iranian Nuclear Deal Is Dangerous
We Have a Deal With Iran. A Good One.
http://www.samefacts.com/2013/11/international-affairs/middle-east-politics/the-iranian-deal/
Congratulations to Secretary of State John Kerry and his boss. This seems like a remarkably good deal. . . .
I’m curious about whether there’s a single Republican officeholder with the guts, smarts, and patriotism to say out loud that this is good for the country.
Right
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/25/obama-crushes-the-neocons.html
The agreement signed with Iran on Sunday is a momentous step forward. Yet Republicans will try to subvert the success by playing to their Obama-hating base. . . .
@JohnCornyn: Amazing what WH will do to distract attention from O-care [read on]
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/corker-claims-iran-taking-advantage-weak
Corker Claims Iran Is Taking Advantage Of ‘Weak’ Obama Administration
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]]>The post What winning feels like: Progressive Blog Digest appeared first on Occasional Planet.
]]>The usual pundits and chin-pullers are all upset now that the Democratic reform to the filibuster will upset the spirit of bipartisanship and comity between the
parties. You know, that spirit of bipartisanship and comity that the Republicans were so committed to? Nasty old Democrats!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/11/22/pundits-bemoan-end-of-filibuster/
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/11/nuclear-option-and-bipartisan-fantasies.html
No, nuclear option will not make Washington partisanship ‘worse.’ Worse? How could it be worse?
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/worse-how-could-it-be-worse
The Senate Really Can’t Get Much More Dysfunctional at This Point
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/11/senate-really-cant-get-much-more-dysfunctional-point
The new, aggressive Democratic Party
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2013/11/harry_reid_obamacare_and_filibuster_reform_democrats_want_a_new_political.html
More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-allies-weigh-nomination-strategy-under-new-senate-rules/2013/11/22/31664534-538e-11e3-9e2c-e1d01116fd98_story.html?wprss=rss_politics
The White House and its allies are formulating ways to take maximum advantage of this week’s change in the Senate’s filibuster rules to rapidly confirm more than 240 judicial and executive nominees awaiting approval. . . .
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