Top Items:
Washington Post:
Out from under the anti-tax pledge — WITH A HANDFUL of exceptions, every Republican member of Congress has signed a pledge against increasing taxes. Would allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire as scheduled in 2012 violate this vow? We posed this question to Grover Norquist …
RELATED:
Americans for Tax Reform RSS:
ATR Statement on Washington Post Editorial — To clarify concerns that may be raised by the Washington Post editorial today, Americans for Tax Reform issued the following statement: — ATR opposes all tax increases on the American people. Any failure to extend or make permanent the tax cuts …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, New York Magazine and The New Republic
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
Norquist sees a loophole in his own pledge?
Gschwarzcnn / CNN:
Pawlenty clarifies Bachmann jab — (CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty walked back earlier criticism of rival Michele Bachmann's migraines on Wednesday, calling the attention over her headaches “a sideshow.” — “I think it's mostly a sideshow,” Pawlenty said on Fox News.
Discussion:
The Note, NewsBusters.org blogs, Hot Air, Talking Points Memo, Daily Kos and Oliver Willis
RELATED:
Robinson / nation.foxnews.com:
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: All right, your fellow Minnesotan …
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: All right, your fellow Minnesotan …
Discussion:
TPMDC and No More Mister Nice Blog
John Merline / Investor's Business Daily:
Home Depot Co-Founder: Obama Is Choking Recovery — Bernie Marcus co-founded Home Depot (HD) in 1978 and brought it public in 1981 as the U.S. was suffering from the worst recession and unemployment in 40 years. The company thrived, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and redefining home improvement retailing.
Discussion:
Questions and Observations, The Glittering Eye, The Daily Caller, Wizbang and Cold Fury
RELATED:
Brian Stelter / New York Times:
Sharpton Appears to Win Anchor Spot on MSNBC — After giving a nearly six-month tryout for the Internet talk show host Cenk Uygur, the cable news channel MSNBC is preparing to instead hand its 6 p.m. time slot to the Rev. Al Sharpton. — Mr. Sharpton's imminent hiring …
Mickey Edwards / The Atlantic Online:
How to Turn Republicans and Democrats Into Americans — An insider's six-step plan to fix Congress — ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED, American voters went to the polls in November 2010 to “take back” their country. Just as they had done in 2008. And 2006. And repeatedly for decades …
RELATED:
Roger Ebert / Roger Ebert's Journal:
The Republicans exit history
The Republicans exit history
Discussion:
CANNONFIRE, Pharyngula and AMERICAblog News
Fareed Zakaria / Washington Post:
A way out of our dysfunctional politics
A way out of our dysfunctional politics
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice and ThinkProgress
Zack Ford / ThinkProgress:
Gay ‘Barbarians’ Demand Ex-Gay ‘Discipline’ From Bachmann Clinic — Today a group of gay “barbarians” descended upon Marcus Bachmann's Christian counseling center to protest the harmful ex-gay therapy offered there. During a radio interview in 2010, Bachmann compared gay people to “barbarians” who need to be “disciplined.”
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Daily Kos
RELATED:
Igor Volsky / ThinkProgress:
How Things Have Changed: A Video Review Of The Vile Attacks Against LGBT Americans During The 1996 DOMA Debate — Yesterday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act highlighted the nation's evolution towards LGBT equality …
Discussion:
Towleroad News #gay, Pam's House Blend and The Atlantic Online
RELATED:
E. J. Graff / The Atlantic Online:
15 Years After DOMA, Hearing Reveals a Nation Transformed
15 Years After DOMA, Hearing Reveals a Nation Transformed
Discussion:
Renna Communications, Towleroad News #gay and Outside the Beltway
Elizabeth Titus / The Politico:
Franken spars with family advocate
Franken spars with family advocate
Discussion:
National Review, Equality Matters, ThinkProgress, Good As You and Box Turtle Bulletin
Louise Storyand Julie Creswell / New York Times:
Wall St. Makes Fallback Plans for Debt Crisis — Lawmakers in Washington are racing to reach a deal to save the country from defaulting on its debt, but on Wall Street, financial players are devising doomsday plans in case the clock runs out. — These companies are taking steps to reduce …
Marie Diamond / ThinkProgress:
Allen West Refuses To Apologize, Blames Military Background For His Insulting Remarks — Facing a barrage of criticism, Rep. Allen West (R-FL) remains defiant and says he won't apologize to DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) for a disparaging email in which he called her “vile …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars and The Huffington Post
RELATED:
Daniel Strauss / The Hill:
West: Apology to Wasserman Schultz ‘not happening’
West: Apology to Wasserman Schultz ‘not happening’
Discussion:
Power Line, Weasel Zippers and Ballot Box
Stephen Castle / New York Times:
Greek Rescue Plan May Allow for Default on Some Debt — BRUSSELS — European leaders began a crucial meeting Thursday after talks between Germany and France produced agreement on a rescue plan for Greece that may push the country to default on some of its debt for a short period.
Discussion:
JustOneMinute, Free exchange, Clusterstock, AMERICAN FUTURE, Wall Street Journal and THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS
RELATED:
Cristina Marcos / The Hill:
FEC rules Edwards should pay $2.3M — Former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) must repay the federal government millions of dollars in matching funds, the Federal Election Commission unanimously ruled Thursday. — In a 6- vote, the commission determined the former presidential candidate accepted excessive funds …
Discussion:
The Politico and CNN
Alex Pappas / The Daily Caller:
Politico reporter who covered Palin quits for Democratic Party job — A Politico reporter who often penned stories about Sarah Palin and other Republicans has quit journalism to work with the Democratic Party in Arizona, sources tell The Daily Caller. — That reporter, Andy Barr …
Discussion:
nation.foxnews.com, NewsBusters.org blogs, FishbowlDC, Confederate Yankee and UrbanGrounds
Matthew Yglesias / ThinkProgress:
Having Plunged Previously, After The Affordable Care Act Passed Private Sector Employment Increased — I don't think this chart showing that private sector employment has grown after the passage of the Affordable Care Act really proves much one way or another, but it certainly proves …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, The Heritage Foundation, Modeled Behavior, Oliver Willis and Heritage Foundation
The Note:
Mitt Romney's Fundraising Pitch: What He Tells High Rollers Behind Closed Doors — ABC News' Shushannah Walshe reports (@shushwalshe) reports: — Mitt Romney was back in New York City Tuesday evening trying to reel in more cash for his campaign, holding top dollar events at The Pierre …
Discussion:
GOP 12, Taegan Goddard's … and Mediaite
Kbh / Keith Hennessey:
Why I oppose the Gang of Six plan — If you'd like to understand the details of the Gang of Six plan, please read my (quite long) earlier post. — I strongly oppose the Gang of Six plan. I think it is absolutely terrible fiscal policy. — First I'll flag a few things I like in the plan.
Debbie Siegelbaum / The Hill:
Dems look to ban polystyrene from House cafeterias — Two House Democrats plan to introduce legislation on the House floor Thursday that would ban polystyrene products from Congressional cafeterias. — Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) are slated to introduce an amendment …
Bloomberg:
U.S. Consumers Relying on Credit for Basic Necessities — Consumers in the U.S. are increasingly using credit cards to pay for basic necessities as income gains fail to keep pace with rising food and fuel prices. — The dollar volume of purchases charged grew 10.7 percent in June from a year ago …
Discussion:
JustOneMinute and Hullabaloo
Jonathan Turley / New York Times:
One Big, Happy Polygamous Family — SINCE the Supreme Court's 2003 decision in Lawrence v. Texas, Americans have enjoyed unprecedented freedom in their lifestyles and private relationships. The decision held that states could no longer use the criminal code for social engineering …
Discussion:
Althouse and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
Lucia Mutikani / Reuters:
Regional factories rebound, jobless claims up — (Reuters) - Factory activity in the Mid-Atlantic region bounced back in July, lifting hopes of a pick-up in economic growth in the third quarter. — However, a rise in the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits suggested …
Discussion:
Bloomberg, The Heritage Foundation, nation.foxnews.com, Pajamas Media and The Lonely Conservative
Joseph Straw / NY Daily News:
Al Qaeda magazine pokes fun at fall of sexting pol Anthony Weiner — WASHINGTON - Even terrorists are making Weiner jokes. — In Al Qaeda's latest edition of its chilling e-magazine, “Inspire,” the terror network's Arabian Peninsula syndicate settles a score with former Queens Rep. Anthony Weiner …
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers, Runnin' Scared and JammieWearingFool
Alexandra Petri / Washington Post:
GOP 2012 Twitter debate was a joke. — The Twitter debate isn't worth the powder to blow it up. It was a joke, and everyone involved was the punch line. — First there was the Obama Twitter Town hall. That was novel, everyone said, and exciting! And at least the president responded …
Discussion:
The Agonist, blogs.telegraph.co.uk, The Washington Independent and Wonkette
The Politico:
Barack Obama's 2008 bundlers flee political ‘machine’ — When Senator Barack Obama began running for president in 2007, a small handful of determined, inspired supporters found a new political calling. A new group of professionals - from a San Juan jewelry story owner to a West Coast biotech executive …
Discussion:
National Review and Associated Press