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| DAYLEE PICTURE: Turkey Tail Fungus in British Columbia. From National Geographic. |
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Immigration Action May Derail the Republican Agenda
Obama's plan of action on immigration may derail Republican agenda from the Los Angeles Times
"... the strong reaction by Republican leaders has less to do with opposition to the nuts and bolts of the president's immigration policy and more to do with fear and anger that the issue will derail the agenda of the new Republican majority before the next Congress even convenes."
"... the strong reaction by Republican leaders has less to do with opposition to the nuts and bolts of the president's immigration policy and more to do with fear and anger that the issue will derail the agenda of the new Republican majority before the next Congress even convenes."
President's Immigration Actions May Damage the Stability of the GOP Looking Ahead
Republicans confront own worst enemy on immigration from the Washington Post
"Just two weeks ago, Republicans handed President Obama a humiliating defeat at the polls, winning full control of Congress. But already, GOP leaders fear that the conservative uproar over the president’s immigration actions will doom any hopes for a stable period of GOP governance."
"Just two weeks ago, Republicans handed President Obama a humiliating defeat at the polls, winning full control of Congress. But already, GOP leaders fear that the conservative uproar over the president’s immigration actions will doom any hopes for a stable period of GOP governance."
Obama Fulfills His Promise on Immigration
On Immigration, Obama Fulfills His Promise to Progressives (Peter Beinart) from the Atlantic
"The president has long been tugged between his bipartisan urges and his activist roots. With his executive order and speech Thursday, he chose activism."
"The president has long been tugged between his bipartisan urges and his activist roots. With his executive order and speech Thursday, he chose activism."
Obama's Words to the GOP Over Immigration? "Bring It!!"
The Coming GOP Freakout Over Immigration (Patricia Murphy) from the Daily Beast
"With an executive order this week that will affect 5 million undocumented immigrants, the president is daring the Republicans to fight back—and alienate Latino voters."
"With an executive order this week that will affect 5 million undocumented immigrants, the president is daring the Republicans to fight back—and alienate Latino voters."
Employers' New Higher Wage Dodge: "Associate in Need" Programs
Walmart employees holding food drives for their own colleagues who can't put food on the table for the holidays from the Daily Mail [of the UK]
"A picture was posted online on Thursday of a green box at an Oklahoma City store asking employees to donate canned for 'associates in need' One employee said today: 'We work hard and we don't want charity. We just want a fair wage."
"A picture was posted online on Thursday of a green box at an Oklahoma City store asking employees to donate canned for 'associates in need' One employee said today: 'We work hard and we don't want charity. We just want a fair wage."
The Impact of Pittsburgh's Waterfront Renewal
How Green Riverfronts Transformed Pittsburgh from the Atlantic
"The City of Bridges revives the rivers that helped make it an economic powerhouse."
"The City of Bridges revives the rivers that helped make it an economic powerhouse."
House Intelligence Committee's Benghazi Report Torches Conspiracy Theories
House Intelligence Committee's Benghazi Report Torches Conspiracy Theories from the Huffington Post
"Yet another detailed investigation into the Sept. 11, 2012, attacks on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, has refuted claims that there was a coverup or that officials didn't do all they could at the time to save the four Americans killed that night."
"Yet another detailed investigation into the Sept. 11, 2012, attacks on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, has refuted claims that there was a coverup or that officials didn't do all they could at the time to save the four Americans killed that night."
Obama Uniting Conservatives Against Him? Hardly
Republicans Hand Obama an Immigration Political Triumph (Jonathan Chait) from New York Magazine
"Michael Gerson, the Bush-era speechwriter and an advocate of bipartisan legislation, warns that Obama is “uniting conservatives — from the Obama-obsessed to reasonable institutionalists — in fervent opposition.” Actually, just the opposite is occurring. Ardent populists are demanding a series of suicidal confrontations, from shutdowns to, potentially, impeachment, as the Party leadership strains desperately to keep them at bay."
"Michael Gerson, the Bush-era speechwriter and an advocate of bipartisan legislation, warns that Obama is “uniting conservatives — from the Obama-obsessed to reasonable institutionalists — in fervent opposition.” Actually, just the opposite is occurring. Ardent populists are demanding a series of suicidal confrontations, from shutdowns to, potentially, impeachment, as the Party leadership strains desperately to keep them at bay."
Immigration and a Gov't Shutdown: A Masterpiece of GOP Self-Sabotage
An Immigration Shutdown Is the Dumbest Idea the Republican Party Has Ever Had (Jonathan Chait) from New York Magazine
"It is almost a masterpiece of self-sabotage, harnessing the party’s most self-destructive short-term political maneuver to its most dangerous long-term demographic liability. It is the sharks-with-laser-beams of political maneuvers."
"It is almost a masterpiece of self-sabotage, harnessing the party’s most self-destructive short-term political maneuver to its most dangerous long-term demographic liability. It is the sharks-with-laser-beams of political maneuvers."
President Obama's climate agreement already paying off
President Obama's climate agreement already paying off, as China announces cap on coal use by 2020 from Daily Kos
"This was an historic moment, and it also puts pressure on other large polluters to do their part. But China already is stepping up. And of course, the Republicans were furious that the agreement was even made. Find out what the climate scientists are saying, and how the Republicans are responding, over the fold."
"This was an historic moment, and it also puts pressure on other large polluters to do their part. But China already is stepping up. And of course, the Republicans were furious that the agreement was even made. Find out what the climate scientists are saying, and how the Republicans are responding, over the fold."
The GOP's Darker Impulses WILL Surface in Debate Over Immigration
The GOP Reaction to Obama's Immigration Order Will Be Way More Damaging Than They Realize (Noam Scheiber) from the New Republic
"... it turns out to be the one issue on which the right is least capable of maintaining the pretense that its objections are procedural rather than born of some deeper, darker suspicions."
"... it turns out to be the one issue on which the right is least capable of maintaining the pretense that its objections are procedural rather than born of some deeper, darker suspicions."
The GOP's 2014 Victories a "Dark Victory"?
GOP Columnist: The VERY Bad News FOR THE GOP in the GOP's Midterm Victory from Daily Kos
"A GOP strategist, columnist at the Houston Chronicle who goes by the handle GOPLifer, Chris Ladd, has declared that the week of the Midterm Elections “was a dark week for Republicans, and for everyone who wants to see America remain the world’s most vibrant, most powerful nation.” What the HELL! Where was he? In a careful analysis, Ladd builds a case..."
"A GOP strategist, columnist at the Houston Chronicle who goes by the handle GOPLifer, Chris Ladd, has declared that the week of the Midterm Elections “was a dark week for Republicans, and for everyone who wants to see America remain the world’s most vibrant, most powerful nation.” What the HELL! Where was he? In a careful analysis, Ladd builds a case..."
Obama's Immigration Stance Upsets 2016 Pres Hopefuls
Obama just kneecapped Jeb Bush and Chris Christie's 2016 prospects (Jon Terbush) from The Week
"By moving ahead solo before the new Congress is sworn in, Obama ensured Republicans will finally have to address immigration reform next year — and on into 2016. This poses a unique problem for two of the GOP's biggest potential presidential candidates who have broken with the party on the issue."
"By moving ahead solo before the new Congress is sworn in, Obama ensured Republicans will finally have to address immigration reform next year — and on into 2016. This poses a unique problem for two of the GOP's biggest potential presidential candidates who have broken with the party on the issue."
The Hillary Camp Looks Ready to Go
For Democrats, Hillary Clinton just has to say ‘Go.’ For voters, she’ll have to say much more (Dan Balz) from the Washington Post
"The black-tie dinner was also a reminder of the potential gap between Clinton and the voters she will appeal to if she is a candidate. Much of the conversation with Isaacson was about the Roosevelts — Franklin, Eleanor and Teddy. One point made by both Clinton and Isaacson was that while the Roosevelts came from privileged circumstances, they found in public service ways to advocate for those without."
"The black-tie dinner was also a reminder of the potential gap between Clinton and the voters she will appeal to if she is a candidate. Much of the conversation with Isaacson was about the Roosevelts — Franklin, Eleanor and Teddy. One point made by both Clinton and Isaacson was that while the Roosevelts came from privileged circumstances, they found in public service ways to advocate for those without."
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: Who Are We? The Question Asked by Arab Muslims
Who Are We? (Thomas Freidman) from the New York Times
"... conversations here in Dubai, one of the great Arab/Muslim crossroads, make it clear that the rise of the Islamic State “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria, and its barbaric treatment of those who are against them — moderate Sunnis or Shiites, Christians, other minorities and women — has revived this central debate about “who are we?” Why? Because the Islamic State, or ISIS, is homegrown; its aim is not to strike at enemies far away, but to spread and impose its vision of an Islamic society right here and right now..."
"... conversations here in Dubai, one of the great Arab/Muslim crossroads, make it clear that the rise of the Islamic State “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria, and its barbaric treatment of those who are against them — moderate Sunnis or Shiites, Christians, other minorities and women — has revived this central debate about “who are we?” Why? Because the Islamic State, or ISIS, is homegrown; its aim is not to strike at enemies far away, but to spread and impose its vision of an Islamic society right here and right now..."
Obama Boldly Pushes Agenda Forward!
Obama Boldly Pushes Agenda Forward After Election Losses, Sparking GOP Outrage from the Huffington Post
"President Barack Obama's party may have taken a beating at the polls last week, but that hasn't stopped him from taking an aggressive series of actions to push his agenda forward. Over the last week, Obama announced a historic deal on climate change, took a bold stance to protect an open Internet, and is expected to soon announce sweeping changes to the nation's immigration system. Some progressives are already taking notice."
"President Barack Obama's party may have taken a beating at the polls last week, but that hasn't stopped him from taking an aggressive series of actions to push his agenda forward. Over the last week, Obama announced a historic deal on climate change, took a bold stance to protect an open Internet, and is expected to soon announce sweeping changes to the nation's immigration system. Some progressives are already taking notice."
Will the GOP Try to Impeach Obama? Probably.
Rep. Jim Clyburn: GOP will try to impeach President Obama from Politico
“There will be some reason found to introduce an impeachment resolution,” the South Carolina congressman said Tuesday on MSNBC’s “The Ed Show.” “These Republicans have decided that this president must have an asterisk by his name after he leaves office, irrespective of whether or not he gets convicted. It is their plan to introduce an impeachment resolution.”
I completely agree with Clyburn's analysis here -- the GOP HAS to do something that will placate their enraged base. It is ALL BUT CERTAIN that the Republican Congress will accomplish virtually nothing else! They have to be able to fill their idle hours with something they can sell come primary election time -- and impeachment WILL be it. I suspect that whether Obama is actually found guilty or not doesn't matter.
“There will be some reason found to introduce an impeachment resolution,” the South Carolina congressman said Tuesday on MSNBC’s “The Ed Show.” “These Republicans have decided that this president must have an asterisk by his name after he leaves office, irrespective of whether or not he gets convicted. It is their plan to introduce an impeachment resolution.”
I completely agree with Clyburn's analysis here -- the GOP HAS to do something that will placate their enraged base. It is ALL BUT CERTAIN that the Republican Congress will accomplish virtually nothing else! They have to be able to fill their idle hours with something they can sell come primary election time -- and impeachment WILL be it. I suspect that whether Obama is actually found guilty or not doesn't matter.
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