In Backing Benghazi Government, U.S. Places Bet Against Qaddafi's Staying Power (Yochi J. Dreazen) from the National Journal
"The Obama administration’s decision to formally recognize Libya’s opposition movement as the country’s legitimate government represents a high-stakes gamble that Libyan strongman Muammar el-Qaddafi’s hold on power has weakened so much that funneling money and diplomatic aid to the rebels will finally bring about his ouster."
Arab Spring, Start-Up Summer? from the New York Times
"LIKE so many other young people in Cairo, Yasmine el-Mehairy saw no future in Egypt. What she saw was a dead end. Then came Tahrir Square."
Police Investigate New Computer Hacking Claims Linked to News International from the Daily Telegraph [of the UK]
"A police investigation is taking place into claims private investigators working for News International were involved in computer hacking."
"Computer hacking"?! Now, if true, that's a whole other *world* of trouble. One of the characteristics of this scandal so far has been the ... indiscriminate nature of the alleged violations. One of the reasons I suspect that Murdoch is in such deep doo-doo right now is because so many of his operatives behaved so cavalierly in so many different areas. I don't get that his people operated with ANY SENSE of caution or prudence.
Tentacles of Phone-Hacking Scandal Grow Tighter Around Cameron from the New York Times
"The crisis seemed far from over for Mr. Murdoch, as the scandal that began over illegal phone hacking by one of his newspapers, The News of the World, now defunct, widened to include a second newspaper in his stable, The Sunday Times, officials said Saturday. Nor was the crisis abating for Prime Minister David Cameron."
Phone Hacking: New Body Blows for Rupert Murdoch from the Daily Telegraph [of the UK]
"A senior Scotland Yard officer has told The Sunday Telegraph that News International executives – including Mr Murdoch’s son James – are being investigated for any alleged role in covering up the extent of “industrial scale” hacking."
Phone Hacking: David Beckham, Jude Law and Paul McCartney Linked to Phone Hacking from the Daily Telegraph [of the UK]
Key piece here: their phones were hacked *while in New York*. Oops!
"The News of the World allegedly hacked into the mobile phones of Jude Law and his personal assistant while they were in New York, opening the way for News International to be prosecuted in the United States."
Phone Hacking: Rupert Murdoch's American Media Empire 'Could Unravel' from the Daily Telegraph [of the UK]
"The prospect of Rupert Murdoch's American media empire "unravelling" has been raised by one of President Barack Obama's leading allies even as the White House sought to maintain a silence over the burgeoning hacking scandal."
Doubtless, there is some wishful thinking going on here from some of Obama's people -- but I guess their attitude is to do everything you can to "help things along."
The Journal Becomes Fox-ified (Joe Nocera) from the New York Times
It’s official. The Wall Street Journal has been Fox-ified. It took Rupert Murdoch only three and a half years to get there, starting with the moment he acquired the paper from the dysfunctional Bancroft family in December 2007, a purchase that was completed after he vowed to protect The Journal’s editorial integrity and agreed to a (toothless) board that was supposed to make sure he kept that promise. Fat chance of that."
Top Lawmakers Target ‘Grand Bargain’ for Debt Plan from the Washington Post
"As part of the deal being discussed to raise the debt ceiling, leaders on Capitol Hill are forming an especially powerful congressional committee that would be charged with drawing up a new “grand bargain,” possibly by the end of the year. Key elements for a big deal remain in place."
I suspected that there was going to be at least one more push for a "big deal" -- the small, minimalist package being discussed actually still would have left the US in danger of having its credit down-graded. Moreover, I think Obama's larger reasoning on why a serious plan is required may have penetrated at least in some circles. Stated succinctly, "In the current political environment, NO remotely progressive or meaningful jobs legislation stands a chance so long as the deficit issue remains substantively unaddressed." Jonathan Cohn of the New Republic offers some cogent comments on this argument HERE.
Congressional GOP Leaders Slowly Convincing Newer Members of Importance of Raising Debt Ceiling from the National Journal
"Sometimes your closest allies can become your biggest headaches. That's what senior Republicans, negotiating an increase in the nation's debt ceiling, are finding out as the clock ticks down toward the August 2 deadline."
Tea Party Warns GOP on Debt Ceiling from CNN via the Frum Forum
"This week, Tea Party Patriots’ members and supporters are intensely calling various lawmakers: establishment Republicans, so-called “Blue Dog” Democrats and those freshmen Republicans elected to the House with tea party support."
An important set of political stories today:
(1) 2012 Congressional Races: Who’s in the Money? from Politico
"Freshman fumblers: House GOP officials have plenty of freshmen to worry about."
(2) Reports are Make or Break for '12ers from Politico
"The second quarter fundraising reports disclosed Friday underscore the make-or-break moment some in the Republican presidential field will face in the months ahead."
In WI, Scott Walker Concedes Mistakes, Defends Policies from the Huffington Post
""The mistake I made early on is, I looked at it almost like the head of a small business: identify a problem, identify a solution and go out and do it," Walker told Reuters at the National Governor's Association meeting in Salt Lake City."I don't think we built enough of a political case, so we let ... the national organizations come in and define the debate while we were busy just getting the job done," he said."
Boy, if he is saying this, has he been looking over polling data on those GOPers targeted for recall? They must REALLY be screwed. Like so many of these unreflective, private-sector, run-to-the-rescue princes (see Rick Scott in FL), they find that running a business REALLY DOESN'T PREPARE you to run a state!
Bachmann Rumor Grows Louder (Michelle Cottle) from the Daily Beast
"The chatter about Michele Bachmann’s husband's sexuality is spreading. Michelle Cottle on how it could affect a candidate whose Christian beliefs are central to her campaign."
There is so many "oh-my-God" aspects to this story! My first reaction is: boy, it didn't take long for the vicious right-wing piranhas to assemble! The second question is: whose vicious right-wing piranhas are they? My guess: the GOP establishment's. They desperately want her campaign to fail. Prediction: what will follow (even if only behind the scenes) will make the treatment Geraldine Ferraro's husband got back in '84 look like a debutante's coming out party.
CULTURE NUGGET!!
Winnie-the-Pooh's Long March to Cultural Dominance (Eleanor Barkhorn) from the Atlantic
"How did Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, et al transform from introspective children's literary characters to brand ambassadors for everything from paper dolls to bandages? Here, a timeline of key moments in Winnie the Pooh's long march to cultural domination:"
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