News Nuggets 657

 A boat on a lake in Indonesia.  From National Geographic.

UP-FRONT KEY QUESTION OF THE DAY!!
Anthony Weiner and the 'How Can You Be So Stupid?' Question (Leslie Savan) from the Nation
"I’m still stuck on the postmod question that haunts every political sex scandal: Why didn’t you learn from the last schmuck that got caught? And its corollary: How can you be so stupid?"

Meet the Syrian Opposition (Michael Weiss) from Slate
"It's the most liberal and Western-friendly of the Arab Spring uprisings."

Soldiers Join Revolt Against Syria’s Assad from the Washington Times
"Apparent mutiny leads to bloody clash in the north."

After Years in the Dark, Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Struggles in New Role (Thanassis Cambanis) from the Atlantic
"During their decades under the ban, Brothers spread their religious message and delivered what services they could. Now, however, the challenges are vast and political, and the underground methods of a doctrinaire religious group (whose primary mission, always, was spreading a strict message of faith) won't play the same way on the political stage."

Ahmadinejad Isolated by Battle with Iran's Supreme Leader from the Atlantic
"A months-long political rivalry between the Iranian president and Supreme Leader Khamanei has left the former with less power, which is increasingly concentrated in the hands of the latter."

From Swaziland to Papua to Georgia, Here are the World's Forgotten Revolutions from the Global Post
"Arab Spring uprisings get all the ink, but there are others you should know about."

North Korea Defectors Take to the "Underground Railroad" (Patrick Winn) from the Global Post
"The 3,000-mile journey can take months and the path is lined with informants."

Don't Fear the Reaper: Four Misconceptions About How We Think About Drones from Foreign Policy Magazine
"...more important and bigger issues: whether truly autonomous weapons should be permitted in combat, how to track the human cost of different weapons platforms and promote humanitarian standards in war, and whether targeted killings -- by drones or SEAL teams -- are lawful means to combat global terrorism. Based on our analysis of recent op-eds, we unpack four sets of misconceptions below and offer some sensible ways for the anti-drone lobby to reframe the debate."

Barack Obama’s No-Schmooze Diplomacy from Politico
"Obama’s cool pose on the world stage mirrors his arms-length approach toward leaders at home. He’s just not that into hanging out with Congress, business executives or anybody else in Washington who isn’t part of his family or close-knit circle of friends. And he’s always had little patience for the demands on American politicians to play to the cameras."

Obama Hints U.S. Might Tap Petroleum Reserves To Combat Libya Oil Disruption from the Huffington Post
"President Obama on Wednesday appeared to raise the possibility that the administration would release oil from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve to provide relief to Americans grappling with high gas prices."
This action will impact gas prices in about, oh, 7-10 months -- just in time for the election.  I'm sure this has been in their play book for some time.

Obama Team Eyes Employer Payroll Tax Break from Bloomberg News Service
"President Barack Obama’s advisers have discussed seeking a temporary cut in the payroll taxes businesses pay on wages as they debate ways to spur hiring amid signs that the recovery is slowing, according to people familiar with the matter."

Kernel of Truth: Even Iowans Don't Care about Ethanol Subsidies Anymore (John Dickerson) from Slate
"The politics of ethanol have changed in Iowa from the days when ethanol was regarded as some kind of newfangled invention. Unwavering support for ethanol tax credit is no longer the secret password required for success in Republican politics."

Obama Holds Big 2012 Lead Over Republicans from Reuters
"President Barack Obama retains a big lead over possible Republican rivals in the 2012 election despite anxiety about the economy and the country's future, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll on Wednesday."

Why Obama's Still Untouchable in 2012 (Jack W. Germond) from the Daily Beast
"With the wretched economic numbers and bad news out of the Middle East and Afghanistan, the president should be vulnerable, but frontrunner Mitt Romney is stumbling, and other Republicans seem cowed by the Tea Party, says Jack W. Germond."

Wisconsin Protests Ramp Up With Approach of Budget Showdown, Recall Elections (John Nichols) from the Nation
"To protect themselves politically, Walker and friendly legislators are busy seeding the budget proposals with anti-union proposals, which are designed to weaken organized labor as an electoral check and balance on corporate-tied Republican politicians. At the same time, they are rushing to enact draconian restrictions on voter participation and local democracy. The governor’s “dictatorial” approach—as it has been described by the senior member of the state legislature—and his power plays have stirred a new outcry."

Jon Huntsman's No-Names Strategy from Politico
"Jon Huntsman is trying out a novel strategy: running for president without criticizing the incumbent by name.  Since returning from his post as ambassador to China last month, Huntsman has made scant mention of the man who appointed him in May 2009—President Barack Obama. And his would-be campaign officials say that won’t change when the former Utah governor officially launches his campaign. Obama’s political team has so far returned the courtesy."
VERY interesting.  I had noticed this quality to Huntsman's campaign -- and it isn't just how he treats Obama.  He's this way with his GOP opponents.  While there is little evidence that he has caught fire with primary voters so far, I think this is (potentially) a very savvy *long-term* strategy and supports my sense that he is actually playing for the nomination in 2016.  There are SO MANY different notes that he is striking that none of the other candidates are even remotely attuned to.  My suspicion: Huntsman believes that the GOP is going to MAJORLY crash and burn next year.  Huntsman is playing for a FUTURE Republican Party that has *come to its senses.*  Certainly not a safe bet by any means -- but one devoutly to be wished for. 

Ready Or Not, GOP (And America) — Here Comes Michele Bachmann from Talking Points Memo
"Like it or not -- and believe it or not -- Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is poised to jump into the GOP presidential primary. While she could end up being a serious contender in her own right, her entry into the race will perhaps be even more significant for the scrambling of strategies it could set off among her fellow candidates."

Stars Collide: Michele Bachmann vs. Sarah Palin from Politico
"Rep. Michele Bachmann’s prospective 2012 campaign appears increasingly set on a collision course with former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin."

The Tea Party Targets in the GOP Senate (Jill Lawrence) from the Daily Beast
"Conservative champions like Orrin Hatch are running for their political lives in the Tea Party era. Jill Lawrence on the senators being targeted and their chances of survival."

The Nation is really letting loose with some anti-Republican rants today!
The Problem of Republican Idiots (Eric Alterman) from the Nation
"One aspect of American politics that receives insufficient attention is that a significant percentage of self-identified Republicans—around half—are complete idiots. And the candidates who wish to be elected by them must pander to them, either by being idiots themselves—see “Bachmann, Michele”—or pretending to be. Nobody in the MSM is empowered to say this aloud. Indeed, the very act of pointing it out brands one a “liberal elitist” who is biased against proud, patriotic conservatives."

One if by Misstatement, Two if by Ignorant: Palin Gets an 'F' in American History (John Nichols) from the Nation
"What is now equally evident, however, is that her historical bumbling is not a misstep here, a misstatement there. It is a pattern, a pattern of disconnection with and disinterest in the American story. Like so many politicians, she uses American history as a prop, not as inspiration, and certainly not as instruction."

STATE-LEVEL NEWS NUGGET!!
Connecticut Shifts Left: Democratic Rule Remakes Connecticut’s Legislature from the New York Times
"In a year when conservative politics have dominated even traditionally Democratic states like New Jersey and New York, Connecticut is closing out its most activist, liberal legislative session in memory."
Given what we've seen in VT, I suspect that (minus New Hampshire) New England is moving left -- WAY left!

BIG SHOW NUGGET!!
Cirque du Soleil How Do You Make a Whole Show Fly? from the New York Times
"“Zarkana,” Mr. Laliberté’s own high-flying blend of circus and rock opera is to begin a four-month run at Radio City Music Hall this week, the first time Cirque du Soleil, the Montreal-based entertainment behemoth, will have a regular presence on the edge of the New York theater district."
Check out the cool photos of this show!!

DICTIONARY NUGGET!!
After 90 Years, a Dictionary of an Ancient World from the New York Times
"Ninety years in the making, the 21-volume dictionary of the language of ancient Mesopotamia and its Babylonian and Assyrian dialects, unspoken for 2,000 years but preserved on clay tablets and in stone inscriptions deciphered over the last two centuries, has finally been completed by scholars at the University of Chicago."

NOTABLE PUNDIT NUGGET!!
Bob Herbert Finds a New Home from the Huffington Post
"Former New York Times columnist Bob Herbert has joined the think tank Demos, the organization announced Tuesday night."
HERE is where Herbert's views can be located in the future.