News Nuggets 770

A scorpion fly.  From the Daily Mail of the UK.

UP-FRONT LOCAL "OCCUPY WALL STREET" NUGGET!!

Occupy Pittsburgh Discusses Protest Strategies from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"...after a sometimes contentious and often tedious meeting in Schenley Plaza on Sunday, the General Assembly of Occupy Pittsburgh, a group that is planning protests modeled after the ones held recently on Wall Street, had yet to come to a consensus on where to hold the protest or even what kind gathering they would hold. Only one proposal, to hold a permitted event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, was approved by the group, which operates by an elaborate system, termed a consensus model, which requires support of at least three-quarters of those present to approve a measure."

This description is both encouraging and discouraging.  One the one hand, it is GREAT that something is happening here locally.  There needs to be some serious, consequential push-back from the left against the GOP and the Tea Party.  On the other hand, it's hard not to be disturbed by how much time and effort will be spent simply on process.  Some version of this was a common feature of left-wing protest movements and civil rights movements from the 1960s and early 1970s.   Sometimes it worked (the early days of SNCC and the free speech movement at Berkeley) and sometimes it devolved into a prolonged form of divisive self-torture for those involved that culminated in nothing but acrimony (too many examples to mention!).

Here's the latest installment on our Defense Policy Primer for liberals -- a must-read.  It's actually pretty funny in a God-we-spend-way-too-much-money-on-defense kind of way:
Relax: China’s First Aircraft Carrier is a Piece of Junk from Wired Magazine
"...even if she is meant for combat, there’s probably little reason to fear Shi Lang. A close study of the 990-foot-long vessel — plus the warships and airplanes she’ll sail with — reveals a modestly-sized carrier lacking many of the elements that make U.S. flattops so powerful. ... “Our Navy can carry twice as many aircraft at sea as all the rest of the world combined,” outgoing U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates pointed out last year."

Recession Officially Over, U.S. Incomes Kept Falling from the New York Times
"In a grim sign of the enduring nature of the economic slump, household income declined more in the two years after the recession ended than it did during the recession itself, new research has found."
Looking back, it seems clear to me that economists have a problem with terminology.  The "recession" they talk about has little bearing on the recession most people are living.  For them, recessions end when their metrics on job losses/gains turn around -- never mind how many millions of people stopped looking for work altogether or other fundamental flaws in the methodology, never mind that incomes keep falling, and, oh, pay no attention to how the middle class is being hollowed out.  After the Great Depression, the very word "depression" became vorbotten -- I suspect after this recession, the term "recession" will, I suspect, become unspeakable.  The opportunity will then emerge for economists & academics to come up with a new term that actually reflects people's lived experience and econometrics that takes a broader view of the human impacts of an economic downturn.

Panic of the Plutocrats (Paul Krugman) from the New York Times
"...the protests have already elicited a remarkably hysterical reaction from Wall Street, the super-rich in general, and politicians and pundits who reliably serve the interests of the wealthiest hundredth of a percent. And this reaction tells you something important — namely, that the extremists threatening American values are what F.D.R. called “economic royalists,” not the people camping in Zuccotti Park."

The Backlash Against the Rich (Robert Samuelson) from the Washington Post
"When most people are doing okay, the fact that some people are doing better does not arouse much anger. No more. When many people do worse, or fear they might, the rich inspire resentment and envy. Glaring inequalities that once seemed tolerable become offensive. By and large, Americans regard the rich the way they do the poor. ... What’s happening now is that more rich are being disparaged as “undeserving.”

Meet the Occupants (Tracey Samuelson) from New York Magazine
"The organizers of Occupy Wall Street hoped for a turnout of 90,000 when protests began on September 17. Only a few hundred activists showed up, but those who did have been a hardy bunch. They’re still camped in the open air in Zuccotti Park (near the WTC site)—and just got some big labor groups to promise to join their cause. We polled 100 protesters who are in it for the long haul."

From Elizabeth Warren, the Proper Case for Liberalism (E.J. Dionne) from the Washington Post
"It’s not often that a sound bite from a Democratic candidate gets so under the skin of my distinguished colleague George F. Will that he feels moved to quote it in full and then devote an entire column to refuting it. This is instructive. The declaration heard ’round the Internet world came from Elizabeth Warren, the consumer champion running for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts. Warren argued that “there is nobody in this country who got rich on his own,” ..."

Back to the Land, Reluctantly (Susan Gregory Thomas) from the New York Times
"Divorced with three children and broke, I learned to be self-sufficient. It’s no big deal, it turns out."

Is Gun Control Racist? (Adam Winkler) from the Daily Beast
Author Adam Winkler uncovers the surprising racist roots of gun control in America—and how the NRA and other groups flipped entirely. Winkler’s new book is “Gun Fight.”"

Obama’s New Populism Isn’t Alienating Moderates (Ruy Teixeira) from the New Republic
"Just as a strategy can fail among both base and swing voters, so too can one succeed among both groups. Obama’s current strategy is a good candidate for doing so."

Is the Tea Party Over? (Bill Keller) from the New York Times
"Jake Silverstein, sums up Perry as “a child of the mythology of the frontier,” in which “every man is more or less for himself, a good neighbor is one who needs no help, and efforts by the government to interfere are not to be trusted.” To this Perry adds a damn-the-pointy-heads denialism — global warming is a hoax, evolution is just “a theory that’s out there” — as well as a wink to the evangelicals, a nod to the executioner, and an ardent defense of personal liberties for those who are heterosexual and don’t need an abortion."

A Key Bloc of GOP Voters Agrees Only on Disliking Mitt Romney (Perry Bacon) from the Washington Post
"The one point on which they have been most consistent, however, is their resistance to the candidate who has been making his case the longest: former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney."

Could A Flare-Up Of The Mormon Issue Help Rick Perry Win? from Talking Points Memo
"Late on Friday Texas Gov. Rick Perry got the endorsement from a conservative Dallas pastor. It probably wouldn’t have been the most eventful development, except that Dr. Robert Jeffress has described Mormonism as a “cult.” And that just happens to be the religion of Perry’s chief rival for the Republican nomination for President, former Mass Gov. Mitt Romney."

TINTIN MOVIE NUGGET!!
'Why I'm Betting £85 Million on One Cartoon Reporter and his Dog': Steven Spielberg Brings Tintin to the Big Screen from the Daily Mail [of the UK]
"Hergé’s comic books have sold millions... but filmed versions have all been turkeys. Here, the mastermind behind Raiders Of The Lost Ark and Jurassic Park tells Live why that's about to change."

TECHNOLOGY NUGGET!!
The Birth of the Google Translate Era (Thomas Rogers) from Salon
"The rise of new technology is changing the way we think about language and the world. An expert explains how."

VIETNAM BOOK NUGGET!!
Exclusive Quotes from `Westmoreland: The General Who Lost Vietnam’ (David Frum) from the Frum Forum
"Now Sorley has produced a new book, telling the sadder story of the unsuccessful command of Gen. William Westmoreland, whom Sorley harshly but aptly condemns as “the general who lost Vietnam.”"

CHILDREN'S BOOK NUGGET [of a sort]!!
The exceptional picture that goes with this story is both disturbing and priceless!
"No More Adventures in Wonderland (Maria Tatar) from the New York Times
"Children today get an unprecedented dose of adult reality in their books, sometimes without the redemptive beauty, cathartic humor and healing magic of an earlier time."

News Nuggets 769

A bushman on the Okavango River in Botswana.  From National Geographic.

Iran tells Turkey: Change Tack or Face Trouble from Reuters
"A key aide to Iran's supreme leader said on Saturday Turkey must radically rethink its policies on Syria, the NATO missile shield and promoting Muslim secularism in the Arab world -- or face trouble from its own people and neighbors."

Robert Ford, Making a Difference in Syria (David Ignatius) from the Washington Post
"If you’re wondering what diplomats can do in an era of pulverizing military force and instantaneous communications, consider the case of Robert Ford, the U.S. ambassador to Syria. He has been meeting with the Syrian opposition around the country, risking his neck — and in the process infuriating the regime of President Bashar al-Assad."

Flight of the Drones: Why the Future of Air Power Belongs to Unmanned Systems from the Economist [of London]
"...the missile strike that killed al-Qaeda’s most effective propagandist was no real surprise. It was just the latest example of the way America’s armed Predator and Reaper drones are changing the terms of combat with the country’s enemies, leaving them able to run but with nowhere to hide."

Thomas Friedman: Making America Great Again (AUDIO) from NPR's On Point program
"We now live and work in the nation’s capital, where we have seen firsthand the government’s failure to come to terms with the major challenges the country faces. But although this book’s perspective on the present is gloomy, its hopes and expectations for the future are high. We know that America can meet its challenges. ¬After all, that’s the America where we grew up."

A Lost Generation? (AUDIO) from NPR's On Point program
"Young people today have it rough. The recession has hit them particularly hard. They’re unemployed, or underemployed; they’re moving back home to their parents homes in greater numbers and they’re putting off marriage, childrearing, and home buying as they wait things to improve. All of this has led watchers to call it the “lost generation,” a characterization finds support in the data."

White House Feeds Off Protest Anger from the Financial Times [of the UK]
"“Mr Obama is now getting closer to the actual zeitgeist of the American people.” Mr Obama’s toughening line on Wall Street also coincides with a tightening of the political cycle, as politicians begin to tailor every utterance to next year’s presidential and congressional elections."

Embracing His Inner ‘Obamacare’ from the Editorial Board of the New York Times
"As part of his newfound assertiveness, President Obama is using the term “Obamacare,” the Republicans’ sneering dismissal of the Democratic health care reforms. We are skeptical that he will be able to turn it into a term of approbation. But it is heartening to see him finally out there defending his pioneering policy with no apologies and an uncharacteristic feistiness."

Desperately Seeking Someone (Charles Blow) from the New York Times
"... the way the Republican field is shaping up, it may be poised to squander an electoral opportunity of a historic scale. Republicans simply can’t find a competent, consistent candidate with whom they can fall in love and with which President Obama won’t mop the floor."

LOTS of commentary on Mitt's bad weekend at the Values Voter Summit:
Mitt Romney Faces Hostility at Values Voter Summit (Ben Adler) from the Nation
"Mitt Romney came to the Values Voter Summit in Washington, DC, on Saturday morning hoping to mollify his critics on the religious right. He tried his best, offering more specifics on the ways he would attack abortion rights and gay rights than his opponents had. And yet the conference organizers seemed to have it in for him."

The Tea Party Targets Romney (Michelle Cottle) from the Daily Beast
"Conservative activists are gearing up to shut down Mitt Romney's candidacy before it can gain too much steam. Michelle Cottle on the obstacles facing the anti-Mitt movement."

Now why would they target him?  Jon Stewart has the answers in this side-splitting takedown:
Jon Stewart on Mitt Romney's Biggest Problem from the Daily Show via Rolling Stone Magazine
"The only obstacle to Romney's candidacy, according to Stewart? Mitt Romney, and his history of flip-flopping. Watch the Daily Show host hit Mitt where it hurts: his past positions."

Stewart's takedown prompts this response from a conservative speech-writer:
Is Romney the Next Kerry? (Matt Latimer) from the Daily Beast
"That, of course, is not the Mitt Romney running for president today. In fact the Republican’s encyclopedia-sized list of policy reversals makes 2004’s whipping boy, John “I voted for it before I voted against it” Kerry, look like an exemplar of political consistency. All of which raises a haunting question for the GOP as the clock ticks down to the Iowa caucuses: in a party whose potential nominees include Gary Johnson and Ron Paul, could the GOP’s “safe” choice actually be its most reckless gamble?"

Romney’s Mormonism Becomes A Major Issue At Conservative Conference from Talking Points Memo
A disturbing portrait of the so-called "values voters".
"Some on the evangelical side have doubted Obama’s commitment to his faith at best, and accused him of being a secret Muslim masquerading as a Christian at worst. An essential part of those attacks was the idea that America is a Christian nation and needs to be led by a Christian that understands that. And that’s exactly the kind of criticisms Romney is facing."

Icons That Would Shock Today's Right (David Sirota) from Salon
"From Dr. Seuss to the Statue of Liberty, these American mainstays would have been decried by modern conservatives."

CHINA CULTURE NUGGET!!
Mao Will Serve You Now (Melinda Liu) from the Daily Beast
"China’s ‘red restaurants’ turn the Cultural Revolution into dinner theater."

News Nuggets 768

A rendering of the snow dunes on Enceladus, the sixth-largest moon of Saturn.  From National Geographic. 

UP-FRONT STEVE JOBS TRIBUTE NUGGET!!
I was looking for a unique tribute to Steve Jobs, one that was not simply another version of what all the other major news sources were saying.  I think I found it -- in India.
Steve Jobs Takes iWay To Heaven (Chidanand Rajghatta) from the Times of India [in English]
"Steve Jobs, who brought joy to the world by simplifying computers and phones, logged out of life on Wednesday following an enervating seven-year battle with pancreatic cancer. ... Reams are being written and hours are being broadcast about what Jobs brought into our lives, but someone put it in just one word: joy."
I loved this comment at another Times of India tribute -- it has a very distinct Indian sensibility to it:
"“I pray that God will send you back to the world with a new strong body so you can bring humanity many more good things.”
Let me just say, as part of my own tribute to Steve Jobs that he was part of small coterie of pioneering Americans who made personal computers [and LOTS of other related items] available to the world in a way that made these messages from India possible.  He helped create a common global market and, more importantly, a common global language around computing, and these contributions have transformed the lives of average people everywhere.  A truly note-worthy and remarkable life.

What Options Are Left for the Euro? from Der Spiegel [of Germany in English]
"Politicians have maneuvered their countries into an unparalleled situation in the euro crisis. And they already know what most voters don't yet suspect. In the end, only two possibilities will remain to save the beleagured common currency: an expensive transfer union or a smaller monetary union. Either solution will be extremely costly."

Neoconservatives Hype a New Cold War (Ken Silverstein) from Salon
"Lobbyists wine and dine eager Washington journalists in a campaign to undo Obama's "reset" on Russia."

France Cancels Shale-Gas Permits Over Fracking Impasse from the Wall Street Journal [partial subscription wall]
"In a joint statement, France's energy minister, Éric Besson, and environmental minister, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, said that the three permits, which represent all of the country's potential shale-gas fields, had been cancelled after the companies submitted a mandatory report about their drilling techniques in which they maintained their plans to use hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking.'"

Some Unemployed Find Fault in Extension of Jobless Benefits from the New York Times
"“Far better to relax some of these outrageous regulations.” Make no mistake — Mr. Tolleson, 54, has collected unemployment checks, saying he had little choice. But his objection to a policy that would probably benefit him shows just how divisive the question has become of providing a bigger safety net to the long-term jobless, a common strategy in recessions."
I have met some people like this.  Delusional.  In reality, here, from the same article above, is what so many are facing:
"If the extension is not renewed, benefits for more than 2.2 million people will be curtailed by mid-February, according to the Department of Labor. The Obama administration estimates that with no extensions, a total of six million people will run out of benefits over the course of next year."

For Anita Hill, the Clarence Thomas Hearings Haven’t Really Ended from the Washington Post
"Twenty years ago, when Anita Hill returned home from the contentious Senate hearings during which she accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment, people told her not to worry — her name would be forgotten in a matter of months. But two things have become clear this week as she has re-entered the debate: The raw tensions over race, gender and politics raised by the hearings have not been forgotten. And Anita Hill is acting like a woman who wants her name remembered."

Can "Occupy Wall Street" Become a Movement? (Brian Montopoli) from CBS News
""There's a pervasive sense of abandonment of working families and working people in this country, these protests are all about that, that's why organized labor has joined in, because that voice is our voice.""

Is Occupy Wall Street a Tea Party for Democrats? (Paul West) from the Los Angeles Times
"Some observers see Occupy Wall Street as a movement that could morph into something like a tea party for Democrats. Protesters say that's not their aim."

Why Occupy Wall Street Should Scare Republicans (Jonathan Alter) from Bloomberg News Service
I had not considered this angle.
"In Florida this week, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was asked about the growing Occupy Wall Street movement. “I think it’s dangerous, this class warfare,” he said. Romney’s right. It may be dangerous -- to his chances of being elected."

Wall Street Occupied by Tea Party of 'Generation-Twitter' from Die Welt [of Germany in English]
 ""What we are witnessing here in New York City is the Tea Party of generation-Twitter. It's a grassroots movement from the left this time around, brought together by an angry discontent with the status quo, and without any of the protesters knowing quite what will come next.""
Always good to get an outsider's perspective on things.  Apparently, the OWS protests have been getting A LOT of coverage in Europe and the Middle East.

Clean Energy Advances Despite Washington’s Worst Efforts (Heather Taylor-Miesle) from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Action Fund via MyDD
"Tea Party leaders like to paint clean energy and climate action as issues that matter only to elite Democrats living in coastal cities. This claim would come as a surprise to the 38,000 autoworkers building fuel efficient cars in Michigan, the 80 companies involved in the wind supply chain in Iowa, and the more than 100,000 Americans working in the solar industry across the nation. But even if the Tea Party isn’t interested in genuine opportunities for job growth, it can’t ignore where the latest climate action is coming from: Texas and GOP statesmen."
Check out the links in this story.

There's this related item also:
Retired Republicans Quietly Try to Shift GOP Climate-Change Focus from the National Journal
"...quietly, many acknowledge a deepening GOP schism over the issue, as many moderates grow increasingly disturbed by their party’s denial of proven science. A number of influential Republicans who have left the battlefield of electoral politics are now taking action in an effort to change the GOP’s stance."
Pardon me while I throw up.  There they are, these retired GOPers (and there are legions of them) sitting on their ASSets, their enormous retirement nest eggs they harvested while sucking up and otherwise doing the bidding of the oil and gas companies!  NOW, they repent!  NOW, they develop scruples!  Ok -- I got that out of my system.  Seriously, I can't imagine one thing these folks could do now that would make any real difference.

Chelsea Clinton Steps Into the Spotlight from Politico
"The Next Clinton has arrived.  Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton, long a fiercely guarded ward of the Clinton circle, made her first tentative steps into the public eye during the later stages of her mother’s presidential campaign. She found, friends say, that she liked it. And so this fall has featured a carefully staged walk into the spotlight.
Well, everyone has to decide for themselves -- but, holy cow, Chelsea, you of all people have seen how bad it can get!  Man, courageous, -- or out of her mind. For just having the Clinton name she'd be a magnet for the worst kind of sh#$.

No Ideas: Evaluating Romney's Speech on Foreign Policy from the Editorial Board of Democratic Arsenal
" Like Romney’s previous speeches, this one doesn’t have the facts going for it. The address contained more in the way of nice-sounding rhetoric designed to enthuse his audience than it did in terms of serious policy proposals that can draw a contrast between him and President Obama. ... some of us here at DA have decided to take explore each of the policy proposals and then a couple other issues that came up."

Perry 2.0? Texas Governor Looks to Reboot Campaign from the National Journal
"After a series of stumbles, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is looking to reboot his presidential campaign with a $17 million fundraising haul, an appearance before a like-minded audience of Christian conservatives, and a steadier performance in next week’s Republican primary debate."
Well, I will have to say, I've gone from feeling certain that Perry was the certain nominee to being certain that he's not.  He is (a) too willfully dumb -- even for the Tea Party crowd (hard to imagine, isn't it?); (b) too "unscript-able" and uninformed; and (c) too LATE to fix a and b.  If he had gotten into the race one or two years ago and been able to do a LONG shake-down of his campaign, he might have had a chance.  But right now, his campaign is SUCH a work-in-progress!  His act has gone straight to Broadway -- and it's turned out to be the political version of Spider Man.  On so many levels, it is painful to watch (sometimes from the aching sides from laughing so much).

Why the Tea Party Turned on Perry (Ed Kilgore) from the New Republic
"To put it simply, the man who announced his candidacy with a fiery right-wing speech at a gathering of the fiery right-wing RedState community is rapidly alienating his hyper-conservative base, and may have real trouble getting back his wingnut mojo."

ANOTHER FIRST LADY NUGGET [We had one the other day]!!
Soccer mom Michelle Obama Shows Off Her Ball Skills on the White House Lawn (PHOTOS) from the Daily Mail [of the UK]
The pictures are REALLY good!
"First lady Michelle Obama showed off her silky skills as she took on the U.S. women's soccer team outside the White House to promote healthier lives for America's children. Around 50 youngsters also poured onto the south lawn for some running, kicking and other drills yesterday."

News Nuggets 767

An octopus in a glass vase in the waters off the Philippines.  From National Geographic.

UP-FRONT LOCAL ACTIVISM NUGGET!!

Occupy Pittsburgh Event Set Oct. 15 from the Pittsburgh Business Times

"Occupy Pittsburgh, the grassroots effort inspired by but separate from the massive Wall Street demonstrations, are planning their first big event Downtown on Saturday, Oct. 15."

America’s Six Key Lessons for a ‘Euro Tarp’ (Gillian Tett) from the Financial Times [of London]
"“We told you so”. That captures the reaction of many American bankers and policymakers towards Europe these days. Ever since America unveiled its own troubled asset relief programme in 2008, observers in Washington and New York have muttered darkly about Europe’s failure to grasp its banking nettle."
An interesting column -- but only half a story really.  As Michael Lewis's new book, Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World, makes clear, big US Wall Street "masters of the universe" are deeply complicit in the European economic crisis -- and there is no small irony reading the "tut tut"ing from some of the people quoted here.  US financial houses overvalued and oversold worthless financial instruments and bankrupt-making policies to European banks, governments and financial houses.  Across the board, US financiers viewed many of their European counterparts as the easiest patsies willing to buy "Brooklyn Bridge" sized securities which they KNEW were bad investments.  The seventh lesson should be "In the future, don't pay any attention to those people on Wall Street."

McChrystal: Afghan War a Job Half-Done from CBS News
The headline hides the real story.  This is the REAL headline:
"The U.S. began the war in Afghanistan with a "frighteningly simplistic" view of the country and even 10 years later lacks knowledge that could help bring the conflict to a successful end, a former top commander said Thursday."
McChrystal (who had to resign ignominiously last year) is already a tainted figure -- but here we are TEN YEARS into the conflict and we now begin to get SOME CANDOR on the Afghan conflict from military authorities about how badly they made a mess of things.  As I noted the other day, the "golden boy" Patraeus will have (I suspect) as much if not more to answer for when there is more truth-telling.

The Two Obamas: Professor and Populist from Politico
"President Barack Obama’s midmorning White House news conference on Thursday offered a rare glimpse of an inwardly calm, disciplined and analytical president wrestling with his outer demons. For 72 minutes in the East Room, Obama the Professor publicly grappled with Obama the Populist."

Is Obama Repeating the Same Mistake, Expecting New Results?  Not this Time (Steve Benen) from Washington Monthly
"The fight for the American Jobs Act is the first time in a long while that the president has tried a more aggressive posture, not because he prefers confrontation, but because Republicans haven’t responded to countless appeals for constructive negotiation. With the GOP repeatedly slapping away his outstretched hand, Obama wasn’t left with much of a choice. And some White House political reporters want to know why Obama isn’t trying to negotiate with those bent on destroying his presidency? Seriously?"

Gabrielle Giffords Returns To Washington To Attend Retirement Ceremony For Husband Mark Kelly (PHOTOS) from the Associated Press via the Huffington Post
"...there was no chance to ask Giffords questions or for her to make any statements. She did not have extended conversations with colleagues at the beginning of the reception, but she turned to them and waved or blew them kisses when they were introduced. She also wore a heavy brace on her right hand."

Reid Triggers ‘Nuclear Option’ to Change Senate Rules, End Repeat Filibusters from The Hill
"In a shocking development Thursday evening, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) triggered a rarely used procedural option informally called the “nuclear option” to change the Senate rules. Reid and 50 members of his caucus voted to change Senate rules unilaterally to prevent Republicans from forcing votes on uncomfortable amendments after the chamber has voted to move to final passage of a bill."

Dems Change Rules; Senate in Chaos from Politico
"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s move to suddenly overhaul a key Senate rule without warning infuriated Republicans and put an already bitterly divided chamber on edge as senators from both sides of the aisle traded angry accusations over whether the fight would fundamentally limit the rights of the minority party."

Confronting the Malefactors (Paul Krugman) from the New York Times
"There’s something happening here. What it is ain’t exactly clear, but we may, at long last, be seeing the rise of a popular movement that, unlike the Tea Party, is angry at the right people."

Occupy Wall Street: The Democrats' Tea Party? (Jim O'Sullivan) from the National Journal
"For President Obama and his party, anti-Wall Street protests present an opportunity—and a dilemma."

Occupied Wall Street, Seen From Abroad (Anne Marie Slaughter) from the New York Times
"THE American mainstream media is gradually beginning to pay attention to the Occupy Wall Street movement and its spinoffs springing up in Atlanta, Chicago, Boston and Seattle. But from the very beginning the movement has attracted extensive coverage from Al Jazeera and other Middle Eastern news outlets and Twitter users — probably because they recognize the forces that are reshaping politics across their region."

How to Stop the Political Insanity (David Sirota) from Salon
"Recent research shows that turbulent times reward crazy leaders. Here's what we can do to counteract that."

Palin: Already Almost Forgotten (David Frum) from the Frum Forum
"In the end, she exploited, abused, or embarrassed almost everyone who had believed in her. Most embarrassing of all: she was never even a very good con artist. Everything that was false and petty and unqualified in her was visible within the first minutes of encountering her."
The whole article is just as pointed!

The GOP's Post-Palin Comedown (Michael Tomasky) from the Daily Beast
"First Christie, and now Palin. The GOP is going to have to adjust to the reality that its biggest names aren’t running for president. It’s going to be a rocky road, says Michael Tomasky."

POLITICAL HUMOR NUGGET!!
A Tea People’s History (Alex Pareene) from Salon
"Exclusive read from the history book they won't teach in schools: Our holy Constitution."

NOBEL PRIZE NUGGET!!
Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Three Activist Women from the New York Times
"The winners were Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf — Africa’s first elected female president — her compatriot, peace activist Leymah Gbowee and Tawakul Karman of Yemen, a pro-democracy campaigner. ... Most of the recipients in the award’s 110-year history have been men, and the award seemed designed to give impetus to the cause for women’s rights around the world."

FIRST LADY NUGGET!!
'You Just Tell Me When and Where to Run': Michelle Obama Visits Secret Service and Reveals Her Kids Fight Over Their Favourite Agents from the Associated Press
"This is what passes for dinner table conversation in the Obama White House:
Sasha wants Scott. So does Malia. The first lady wants Beth. So does Barack.
Turns out everyone's fighting over who gets which Secret Service agent."

News Nuggets 766

Landscape erosion in Madagascar.  From National Geographic.

The Geopolitics of Energy in the 21st Century (David Rothkpf) from Foreign Policy Magazine
"The second installment of an interview with Daniel Yergin."
The first part of the series is HERE.

The Dirty Secret of U.S.-European Relations (Jan Techau) from the National Interest
"Europeans are increasingly dependent on America for defense planning. How long can such an uneven and unstable partnership last?"

A Week that Transformed the 2012 Story Line (E.J. Dionne) from the Washington Post
"American politics reached a pivot point this week. A new story line will define how voters and the media see what’s going on."

President Embraces ObamaCare Label from The Hill
President Obama is embracing the term “ObamaCare” on the campaign stump, attempting to turn the tables on critics who use it in a derogatory way. “They call it ObamaCare?” the president told supporters at a St. Louis fundraiser Tuesday evening. “I do care! You should care, too.”"
Might as well.

What They've Come to Find at Occupy Wall Street Is America (Charles Pierce) from Esquire Magazine
"If the primary criticism of the ongoing demonstrations is that they seem to lack, as a hundred media reports have put it, "a cohesive public message," that is also one of their great strengths. This is a very loud and clear yawp against the irresponsible use of power by unaccountable institutions, including, increasingly, the government itself. The protests here are omni-directional."

Seeking Energy, Unions Join Protest Against Wall Street from The Hill
"In fact, the unexpected success of Occupy Wall Street in leveling criticism of corporate America has stirred some soul-searching among labor leaders. They have noted with envy that the new movement has done a far better job, not only of capturing interest, but also of attracting young people. Protests have spread to dozens of cities, including Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles."

The Legacy of the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill Hearings (Ruth Marcus) from the Washington Post
"Even now, with the healing distance of two decades, the subject of Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas retains its power to provoke and divide. ... Looking back, it is possible to trace the larger cultural and political legacy, both good and bad, of that painful moment."

Ask Republicans About Jobs, They’ll Answer About Obamacare (Dana Milbank) from the Washington Post
"By most of the usual measures, President Obama has no business being reelected. Here’s why he might be anyway. On Wednesday morning, as Senate Democratic leaders were scrambling to find a way to enact part of Obama’s jobs bill, a dozen Republican lawmakers assembled outside the Capitol to complain about;. health-care reform."

The Art of Winning by Losing (Steve kornacki) from Salon
"Obama's fight over jobs with Eric Cantor and the GOP is doomed. But it just might save his presidency."

Who Will Be the GOP Messiah? (Roger Simon) from Politico
"Other polls have shown similar dismal numbers for Obama. But I say the poll gods are wrong. Not only can Obama be reelected, but he is the favorite right now. Why? Because Obama has one huge plus going for him. It’s called the Republican field."

Democrats are Playing Politics on Jobs. And That’s a Good Thing (Jonathan Bernstein) from the Washington Post
"Republicans might say that the Democrats are playing politics by pushing things they know will never pass. And Republicans would be right. But Democrats should play politics in this manner — it’s in their interests to do so. And Republicans are the ones who pushed Dems in this direction in the first place. I think there are three lessons so far from the jobs bill saga."

Arrivederci, Sarah! (Joe McGinniss) from the Daily Beast
"The Rogue author Joe McGinniss, Palin’s erstwhile neighbor and bete noire, says we should give thanks to God the former governor isn’t joining the 2012 race—and predicts she’ll soon fade away."

OBITUARY NUGGET!!
I know.  You were thinking this would be for Steve Jobs.  No slight on Mr. Jobs -- but I wanted to be sure no one missed this one.
Remembering Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, A Civil RIghts Hero from the Associated Press via Huffington Post
"When others feared standing up to fire hoses and snarling police dogs in his native Alabama, Shuttlesworth soldiered on with his civil rights campaign. Alabama's first black federal judge, U.W. Clemon, said Shuttlesworth flung himself at injustice well knowing he could be killed at any moment. "He was the first black man I knew who was totally unafraid of white folks," said Clemon, a practicing lawyer since retired from the bench."

MEDIA PROFILE NUGGET!!
Rachel Maddow: How This Wonky-Tonk Woman Won TV from the Hollywood Reporter
"MSNBC's primetime superstar delivers news with agenda, but not hysteria, as her style of civil political discussion reveals a turning tide (even Roger Ailes says Fox News has gone too far) that may help stem cable's ratings erosion in an increasingly unpleasant political environment."

News Nuggets 765

A balloon filling up for launch in New Mexico.  From National Geographic.

A Hint of Deterrence in U.S. Drone-War Strategy (David Ignatius) from the Washington Post
"Here’s the trickiest counterterrorism puzzle for U.S. policymakers: How do you stop al-Qaeda from attacking the American homeland without getting bogged down in protracted wars against insurgents? One answer would be to establish deterrence in the long war against Islamic extremism, like the standoff that developed between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The Soviets were obviously a far bigger adversary, but the basic logic is the same: Both sides have deadly weapons, but if you don’t shoot at us, we won’t shoot at you."

A different perspective:
Unfair Advantages: Selling Asymmetric War at the Unmanned Vehicle Systems Trade Show from the Boston Review
"With more than 8,000 attendees over four days, the ever-expanding event illustrates the recession-proof nature of the U.S. military-industrial complex."

Twists of Fate: The Towns That Loved Gaddafi Face an Uncertain Future from Time Magazine
"Unlike their neighbors in nearby communities, the residents of al-Asaaba are not happy with the way things in Libya are going. It used to be the favored town of the area; now its residents are the losers."

Iran is Losing from the Arab Uprisings (Rami G. Khouri) from the Daily Star [of Lebanon]
"The “threat” of a nuclear-capable Iran with its own enrichment facilities has been heavily marketed in the U.S. in recent years by a combination of neoconservatives, pro-Israelis and other groups that find Iran an easy target and scapegoat, for many reasons having to do with Iranian-American political tensions, historical anger on both sides, and regional strategic issues. Today, though, three other major issues seem to have relegated Iran to the background of the foreign policy scene in Washington..."

China’s Fall, Not Its Rise, Is the Real Global Threat from the Editorial Board of Bloomberg News Service
"China’s rise to global prominence has long preoccupied the leaders of the developed world. They should be more concerned about what happens if the country’s growth falters."

How The Financial Crisis Created A 'New Third World' (AUDIO) from NPR's Fresh Air Program
An EXCELLENT discussion that really clarified what's been going on with the Euro crisis!
"Michael Lewis' latest book, Boomerang: The Meltdown Tour, which tells the stories of the fiscal recklessness in both Europe and the U.S. that led to the current debt crisis."

Unions Join Occupy Wall Street (Michelle Goldberg) from the Daily Beast
"First the Transport Workers Union’s bus drivers refused to ferry arrested demonstrators. Now other unions are joining the anarchic anti–Wall Street protests. Michelle Goldberg on why the alliance is tremendously encouraging for progressives."
Goldberg argues, in part, that Occupy Wall Street may evolve into a "Tea Party" for the left.  I'm beginning to see a number of interesting parallels and this could be both a good and a bad thing.  When the Tea Party first emerged, it looked chaotic, irrational, and disconnected from any specific proposal or detailed agenda.  Like when the Tea Party first showed up, the MSM initially dismissed Occupy Wall Street.  Back then, the left mocked the Tea Party just as the right mocks OWS now.  Where will it go?  Who knows? I have a lot of concerns about the way this could evolve.  The movement already recalls (in its visuals) the 1960s counterculture (re: hippie) demonstrations.  While some on the left recall that era with fondness, most of the US does not.  Will the "look" overshadow the issues?  The GOP is doubtless gleeful at the idea that they could resurrect the divisive iconography and rhetoric of the late 1960s.  In '08, the GOP were ecstatic any time they could tie Obama with tiresome ideological relics of 40+ years ago (Rev. Wright, Ayers, Black Panthers and on and on).  So far, the OWS folks are making it really easy.  Moreover, will the ultimate outcome be to make the country even more ungovernable than it already is? 

A more optimistic view:
Rescuing America from Wall Street (Harold Meyerson) from the Washington Post
"Better late than never, the movement to take America back from Wall Street has arrived. On Wednesday, the ranks of the Occupy Wall Street encampment will swell as Move­On.org members, union activists and ordinary disgruntled citizens join the demonstration against our financial sector’s misrule of the American economy. What’s more, long-planned anti-bank demonstrations in major cities this week are growing beyond their organizers’ fondest hopes as the Wall Street protest movement catches fire."

Protesters’ Newspaper Occupies a Familiar Name from the Wall Street Journal
"The name of this new publication — the Occupied Wall Street Journal — nods to a certain national newspaper with origins not far from the protesters’ encampment in Zuccotti Park. The debut four-page issue, published Saturday, had an initial print run of 50,000; a second printing Monday night added another 20,000."

Obama’s Unlikely Anarchist Friends (Jonathan Chait) from New York Magazine
"... two things have happened within the last month that provide a faint glimmer of hope for the Democrats. The first is Obama’s American Jobs Act. The second is the growing Occupy Wall Street movement."

Has Obama Found his Inner Populist? from Politico
"Obama’s aides insist that his sharp criticism of the bank during an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos this week wasn’t intended to kick off a campaign against banking industry bad guys. But it has already had a galvanizing effect on Democrats who see it as the perfect way to hop on the right side of the Wall Street vs. Main Street divide."

Who Are The 99 Percent? (Ezra Klein) from the Washington Post
"These are not rants against the system. They’re not anarchist manifestos. They’re not calls for a revolution. They’re small stories of people who played by the rules, did what they were told, and now have nothing to show for it."

President Obama Goes on the Attack, to Democrats’ Delight from the Washington Post
"The emergence of this more pugnacious Obama has heartened Democrats, especially the most liberal ones, who spent the past few months dejected by what they saw as the president’s unwillingness to engage his opponents in political combat."

Obama Bets on 50-State Strategy to Eke Out '12 Win from Reuters
"While Republican presidential candidates target early-voting states, President Barack Obama's team is laying the groundwork for a 50-state campaign strategy it hopes will secure another White House win in 2012."

Herman Cain Rises, Rick Perry Slides in New CBS News Poll from CBS News
"The poll shows Cain, who stood at just five percent support two weeks ago, now holding 17 percent support among Republican primary voters. That puts the former Godfather's Pizza CEO into a tie with Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, whose support has essentially held steady over the past two weeks."
Cain finally gets HIS moment on the runway!  And how long will that last?  If recent history is any judge, he will be sprawled in the orchestra pit in very short order.

GOP Looks Past Sarah Palin for 2012 from Politico
"After spending the better part of three years in the center of the national political spotlight, the former vice presidential candidate appears to have worn out the patience of the GOP."

MARRIAGE NUGGET!!
Why Should Marriage Last Forever? (Mary Elizabeth Williams) from Salon
"'Til death do us part is so permanent. Does Mexico City have a good idea with renewable marriage contracts?"

BICYCLE NUGGET!!
The Rise of Urban Biking (Ben Adler) from the Nation
"The Complete Streets movement is helping city residents reimagine their roads."

News Nuggets 764

Mother and baby one-horned rhinoceroses at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo. From ZooBorns.

Drones Are Death Warrants: Can the U.S. Send Drones to Execute American Citizens Like Anwar al-Awlaki Without Trial? You Bet (William Saletan) from Slate
"If a U.S. citizen fighting alongside al-Qaida poses an imminent threat and can’t feasibly be arrested, we can send a drone to kill him."
The original New York Times piece upon which some of this article is based is HERE.

Frontier of Frugality: Retailers Face Reality That Many People Can't Trade Back Up from the Wall Street Journal
"Retailers are coming to terms with a new reality: the consumer who traded down during the recession and never came back. Buffeted by high unemployment, heavy debt loads, falling home values and high food and gas prices, these shoppers have been whipped into a permanent state of consumer caution. They buy only what they need, avoid premium labels, clip coupons and scour sales."

Wall Street Protesters Hope to Plant Seeds of a National Cause from the Washington Post
"New York’s budding anti-capitalism protest movement began last month with a vague sense of grievance over the widening gap between the rich and poor in America. ... Now similar protests are springing up in Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago, and organizers in Washington plan a march at Freedom Plaza on Thursday to “denounce the systems and institutions that support endless war and unrestrained corporate greed.”"

Top 5 Reasons Why The Occupy Wall Street Protests Embody Values Of The Real Boston Tea Party from Think Progress
"In the last two weeks, as protesters have gathered from New York to Los Angeles to protest corporate domination over American politics, a true Tea Party movement may be brewing:"

Occupy Wall Street coming to Pittsburgh from the Pittsburgh Business Times
"The organizers of Occupy Wall Street, the protest movement that led to mass protests and mass arrests in and around the New York City financial district, plan a Pittsburgh demonstration. There will be a planning meeting Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh on Morewood Avenue in Shadyside, according to the Occupy Pittsburgh Facebook page."

Koch Brothers Flout Law With Secret Iran Sales from the Bloomberg News Service
"In May 2008, a unit of Koch Industries Inc., one of the world’s largest privately held companies, sent Ludmila Egorova-Farines, its newly hired compliance officer and ethics manager, to investigate the management of a subsidiary in Arles in southern France. In less than a week, she discovered that the company had paid bribes to win contracts. “I uncovered the practices within a few days,” Egorova- Farines says. “They were not hidden at all.”"

House GOP Freshmen Have No Safe Seats from Politico
"The 87 House freshmen who helped the GOP seize the majority by capitalizing on a deep reservoir of anti-establishment resentment are discovering that anger hasn’t gone away — and it could even threaten their fledgling careers. Some tea party darlings from 2010 are fearful of tea party challengers in 2012, facing charges they’ve turned their backs on the movement’s small-government beliefs."

MEDICAL NUGGET [of a sort]!!
A 'Stay-Sober' Pill: Coming to a Pharmacy Near You? from The Week
"Korea already sells supposedly hangover-free alcohol, but what if a pill could stop you from getting drunk in the first place? That's the premise of a new "stay sober" tablet reportedly under development in Australia."

LEGO NUGGET!!
Mathematician Uses Thousands of Lego Bricks to Recreate Escher's Gravity-Defying Images from the Daily Mail [of the UK]
"For decades people have wondered how master graphic artist MC Escher played with perspective to create his clever optical illusions. Now a British mathematician who created these 3D Lego replicas including a gravity-defying piece featuring figures climbing stairs in his attic has offered yet another take on the artist's baffling visual puzzles using real Lego blocks."

News Nuggets 763

A seal strolling along the shore of Sandfly Bay in Dunedin, New Zealand. From the Atlantic Magazine.

The Petraeus Projection: The CIA Director's Record Since the Surge (Fred Branfman) from Salon
"Hero worship hides the military failures of the CIA director's "global killing machine""
I have long-suspected that Petraeus's post-surge "golden boy" reputation was unwarranted and that he used it to buffalo Obama into staying in Iraq and Afghanistan way beyond the "sell-by" dates of those conflicts.  I don't think history will be kind to the general.

Why China Won't Conquer the World (Xué Xinran) from the Daily Telegraph [of the UK]
"Its young are incapable, its old are exhausted, and box-ticking bureaucrats make life hell. China, a superpower? First it needs to grow up, says acclaimed author Xué Xinran."

Obama's 'Class Warfare' Strategy Finds Broad Appeal with Voters (Juan Williams) from The Hill
"The Republican counterattack is to label Obama a failed leader resorting to class warfare. ... But a Fox News poll out last week said the president and fellow Democrats are gaining with voters by calling attention to the nation’s class divide."

What Does 'Occupy Wall Street' Want? (Ezra Klein) from the Washington Post
"The Occupy Wall Street protests are explicitly inspired by, and modeled on, the Tahrir Square protests in Egypt. And though that's a tough act to follow, it's clear the Occupy Wall Street protests are catching a fire all their own. The question now is what they do with it. "

The University of Wherever (Bill Keller) from the New York Times
"Two recent events at Stanford University suggest that the day is growing nearer when quality higher education confronts the technological disruptions that have already upended the music and book industries, humbled enterprises from Kodak to the Postal Service (not to mention the newspaper business), and helped destabilize despots across the Middle East."

Can the Left Stage a Tea Party? (E.J. Dionne) from the Washington Post
"Why hasn't there been a tea party on the left? And can President Obama and the American left develop a functional relationship? That those two questions are not asked very often is a sign of how much of the nation's political energy has been monopolized by the right from the beginning of Obama's term."

The Rick Perry Hustle (Larry McMurtry) from the New York Review of Books
"Clearly the GOP has a problem. Except for those aging sinners Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, all its candidates seem synthetic. It’s become the party of stale air; and now who should come bounding in but another slicked up trashmouth, Governor Perry of Texas, a man whose only salient principle seems to be that all attention is good."

BRITISH HISTORY/CULTURE NUGGET!!
What Empire Did for Britain (Jeremy Paxman) from the Daily Telegraph [of the UK]
"For hundreds of years, Britain shaped the history of the world. Yet it is shocking, says Jeremy Paxman, how little we appreciate the enduring effect of the colonial spirit on all our lives in this country."

News Nuggets 762

Koalas at the Lone Pine Conservation Park in Queensland, Australia.  From the Daily Mail of the UK.

Mental Toll of Extended Unemployment Looms Large from the Washington Post
"Many jobless Americans are falling into despair as repeated attempts to find work come up short."

Leading Bystander (John Dickerson) from Slate
"The claims that Obama doesn't lead are wrong and muddle things."

The Bankers and the Revolutionaries (Nicholas Kristof) from the New York Times
"I tweeted that the protest reminded me a bit of Tahrir Square in Cairo, and that raised eyebrows. True, no bullets are whizzing around, and the movement won’t unseat any dictators. But there is the same cohort of alienated young people, and the same savvy use of Twitter and other social media to recruit more participants. Most of all, there’s a similar tide of youthful frustration with a political and economic system that protesters regard as broken, corrupt, unresponsive and unaccountable."

Wall Street Readies Assault on Elizabeth Warren from Politico
"Wall Street is quietly watching Elizabeth Warren, getting ready to pounce. The Democratic primary in Massachusetts is still almost a year away, but the expected race between the architect of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Republican Sen. Scott Brown is already a hot topic in the financial services universe."
Given the protests on Wall Street, this kind of organized, big-dollar opposition (properly framed) could really work to Warren's advantage.

Our Unprepared Graduates (Kathleen Parker) from the Washington Post
"Jobs, jobs, jobs, we keep hearing. But for whom, whom, whom? Certainly not for the many young Americans being graduated from colleges that have prepared them inadequately for the competitive marketplace. The failure of colleges and universities to teach basic skills, while coddling them with plush dorms and self-directed “study,” is a dot-connecting exercise for Uncle Shoulda...”"

PolitiFact: Pundits Get Fewer Facts Right from the Huffington Post
"PolitiFact.com, which fact checks statements made in Washington, has found that pundits and talk show hosts tend to get fewer facts right, compared to the overall ratings for the individuals and groups it researched."

The GOP Establishment Trap (Brett Decker) from the Washington Times
"It’s a mistake to think Tea Party conservatives can’t win."

Missing the Populist Moment (Ross Douthat) from the New York Times
"This cycle of populist disappointment has probably raised the Republican Party’s odds of taking the White House in 2012, by making a swift coronation for Mitt Romney more and more likely. (So long as a certain New Jersey governor doesn’t lumber into the race, that is.) But it’s a missed opportunity for American conservatism. Republican primary voters deserve a better class of right-wing populist, and the country does as well."

In GOP Contest, Anything Could Happen from the Los Angeles Times
"With no clear front-runner and new campaign rules that could leave the field open well after the first votes are cast, analysts see room for many twists still to come."

Restless House GOP Members Pointing Fingers at One Another from The Hill
"GOP lawmakers told The Hill that redistricting pitting incumbents versus incumbents, coupled with the threat of Tea Party primary opponents, has sparked a lot of anxiety among House Republicans."

Perry’s Perpetually Playing Defense (Jennifer Rubin) from the Washington Post
"After a strong first week, Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s presidential campaign has devolved into the “controversy of the week.”"

Rick Perry Under More Strain After Race Row from the Daily Telegraph [of the UK]
"Rick Perry, the potential Republican presidential nominee in 2012, has been accused of entertaining guests at a hunting camp called "Niggerhead.""
What a dope!!

TV DOCUMENTARY NUGGET!!
The Bootleg Empire of Ken Burns' Prohibition from Time Magazine
"There may be nothing more gratifying and unifying for people than coming together in disdain for a past idea, now universally agreed on to be stupid. ... So for fans of Boardwalk (though its viewership was down from its season 1 premiere) or students of American history, Ken Burns' Prohibition, airing three nights on PBS starting Sunday, provides a detailed, engaging postmortem of a very, very bad idea."
Salon has an excellent review HERE.

AUTMN NUGGET!!
Leaf Peeping Across the Country (SLIDESHOW) from Salon
"From Vermont's Green Mountains to Colorado's Crater Lake, the best places to glimpse fall's fleeting beauty."

News Nuggets 761

The Dallol Volvano region of Ethiopia. From the National Geographic.

American Jihadi Samir Khan Killed With Awlaki from ABC News
"A young American who edited al Qaeda's English-language magazine, and had urged Muslims to mount deadly attacks on U.S. targets, was killed in the same CIA drone strike that eliminated Anwar Awlaki in Yemen Friday, U.S. officials said."

More Than a Feeling (Daniel Byman) from Foreign Policy Magazine
"Anwar al-Awlaki's killing is more than just a blow to al Qaeda -- it's a real victory for American security."

Afghanistan Haqqani Militant Haji Mali Khan Captured from the BBC
"A senior leader of the militant Haqqani network, Haji Mali Khan, has been captured in Afghanistan, the Nato-led international force Isaf has said."

Obama’s Anti-Terror Doctrine (Eli Lake & John Barry) from the Daily Beast
The killing of Anwar al-Awlaki is the latest prize of President Obama’s strategy of a smaller, quieter war on terror. Eli Lake and John Barry on the mix of “black” and “white” special forces—and the debate over al Qaeda’s current strength."

Another Obama Foreign Policy Success from Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
From First Read: "No president since George H.W. Bush has had more foreign-policy successes happen under his watch than President Obama. The death of bin Laden. The dismantling of al Qaeda. The ouster of Khaddafy. And the end of combat operations in Iraq. Yet when you look at polls and Obama's approval rating, he's getting almost no credit from the American public, a la Bush 41."
There are two links worth checking out here.


A similar sentiment here:
Obama’s Missing Bravado (Michael Tomasky) from the Daily Beast
"Obama has nearly decimated al Qaeda. Why doesn’t he brag about it? Michael Tomasky on liberals’ squeamishness at thumping their chests—and the endless victory lap that Bush would have taken."

Death From Above (Clive Irving) from the Daily Beast
"Comparatively inexpensive compared to other systems, drones like the one that killed Anwar al-Awlaki have demonstrated themselves to be nimble and deadly."

Russians Cling to Putin for Fear of Alternative (Seamus Martin) from the Irish Times
"I asked Russians why they liked Putin was a telling: “He doesn’t drink.” He also brought strict control of sections of the media, notably the national TV stations from which the large majority of Russians get their social and political information. This control, allied to the stability enjoyed by Russia’s citizens, places him in an unassailable position in the run-up to the elections."

Putin's Return and Washington's Reset With Russia: Why the New President Will Have to Play Nice With Obama  (Andrew Kuchins) from the journal, Foreign Affairs
"With Vladimir Putin now set to retake the Russian presidency, many are arguing that Washington's reset with Moscow is in jeopardy. Not so, as a rising China, cheap oil, and a need for international partners will force the Kremlin to play nice with the Obama administration."

Euro Crisis: The Biggest Story In American Politics And Nobody’s Talking About It from Talking Points Memo
"It could easily force the United States back into recession and become the issue on which the 2012 elections turn. But the national political press has all but ignored it, and none of the GOP's Presidential hopefuls have been asked about it in any of their endless series of debates."
This is one of the BIGGEST bug-a-boos I have about the MSM right now -- the Euro crisis and its potential impact on the US economy is TOO COMPLICATED and TOO MESSY and (after decades of treating American voters like dummies when it comes to foreign policy or ignoring the subject altogether), the vast majority of Americans now live in a political landscape distinguished almost solely by domestic political landmarks: the deficit; Obama's a 'socialist'; culture wars; the 2012 election; and on and on and on.  When it has come to foreign policy (and global economics especially) the media (from across the ideological spectrum) simply stopped treating American voters like adults who actually NEEDED TO KNOW SOMETHING and chose instead to go for the easiest-to-write domestic political stories.  Anyone who routinely checks out European news sources immediately gets how stupid and uninformed most Americans are.  NOW we see the cost!  As the Euro crisis unfolds and begins dragging the US economy back into the dumper, most Americans (and even most pundits I will argue) are profoundly unprepared.  Mass incomprehension is what's in store.  But, fear not, our contemporary cast of domestic demagogues will happily fill in ALL of the blanks soon enough!

And if that story hasn't received enough attention, consider this one:
Falling Like a BRIC... (Cullen Roche) from Pragmatic Capitalism
"With everything that’s going on in Europe and the continuing political charade in America, you might easily be distracted. But there’s another far more important story developing in other regions of the world. And in my opinion, it’s as important and perhaps more important than these other headline grabbers out of Europe and America. In the last few months we have seen a persistent weakness in trends out of the BRIC nations."

On the Wall Street Protesters -- Can You Hear Them Now? (Peter Catapano) from the New York Times
"... the image of the pilots provided a strong visual contrast to the ongoing protests, and raised the question of whether the media coverage of them has been sufficient, or fair. In the nearly two weeks since the protests began, that debate has been heated."
An interesting compliment to my discussion from yesterday concerning "what do the protesters want?"  I'm fascinated by the variety of answers people come up with to this (in my view) make-or-break question.

Rich People are Being ‘Demonized’ for Flaunting their Wealth. Poor Dears! (Barbara Ehrenreich) from the Washington Post
"Admirers of the rich, led by pundits and politicians on the right — from Laura Ingraham to Larry Kudlow — have long derided the victimization claims of African Americans, women, gays and the unemployed, but now they’re raising their voices to defend the rich against what they see as an ugly tide of “demonization.” ... But even beyond the taxes-and-deficits debate, in which wealthy Americans have been routinely characterized as yacht owners and corporate-jet fliers, the rich have indeed suffered a few blows to their self-esteem."
A long-form look at how rarely the rich are criticized for anything.

Obama Supporters Score Early Victory in Ohio from ABC News
"Obama campaign volunteers and a coalition of Democratic-aligned advocacy organizations gathered more than 318,000 signatures to effectively block new Republican-sponsored voting restrictions from taking effect through the next year, the groups announced today."

Don’t Do It, Chris! (Matt Lattimer) from the Daily Beast
"If New Jersey Gov. Christie actually joins the 2012 presidential race, he risks a rapid fall from grace. Just ask Rudy, Fred, and Rick. Matt Latimer on the dangers of heeding your fans."

On the GOP Pres Race, Late Night Snark Wins C&J Straw Poll from Daily Kos
Some HILARIOUS excerpts from late night TV!
Example: "[Herman Cain] just kicked Rick Perry's Caucasian ass up and down the state of Florida, proving that politics sometimes is like a porn movie. … Y'know, a pizza guy shows up out of nowhere and fucks you." ---Daily Show "Senior Black Correspondent" Larry Wilmore"

MIRACLE NUGGET!!
Sarah Churman, Deaf Woman, Hears Herself For First Time (VIDEO) from the Huffington Post
"Sarah Churman, 29, was born deaf. Until recently, she had never heard the sound of her own voice. But thanks to a hearing implant, Churman was finally given that ability. Watch the powerful video below in which Churman hears herself speaking for the first time."

WORLD WAR II NUGGET!!
The Nuremberg Scripts (Joe Nocera) from the New York Times
"For the next five months, Burson was one of two soldiers who reported on the trial and produced a daily “script,” which was read over the air by the network’s announcers. ... My response was immediate: Could I see his scripts? A few days later, a thick binder landed on my desk. As I began to read the old, typewritten scripts, I found myself marveling as well, for different reasons than Burson. ... The “you-are-there” quality of Burson’s scripts — written with a fellow corporal, Sy Bernhard — is completely gripping, as good as anything done by the famous correspondents covering the trial, like Howard K. Smith, then of CBS News."