Omelas State University  —  These things should be simple:  —  1. When, as an adult, you come come across another adult raping a small child, you should a) do everything in your power to rescue that child from the rapist, b) call the police the moment it is practicable.

Anti-Cain hoax exposed  —  Yesterday I saw a lengthy thread at Memeorandum about a “HermanCainPAC” website which had a large cover story calling Karen Kraushaar an “ugly bitch.”  Here's the screenshot:  —  The website looked real, with a donate page and so on.

Obama's Influential Mideast Envoy to Resign  —  WASHINGTON — Dennis B. Ross, a seasoned diplomat who has been one of President Obama's most influential advisers on Iran, the Middle East peace process and the political upheaval in the Arab world, will leave the White House in December, a senior administration official said on Thursday.

Obama's Middle East envoy to step down  —  The Obama administration's Middle East envoy, Dennis Ross, is stepping down, the White House announced Thursday.  —  Ross had originally agreed to serve in the role for two years but because of the Arab Spring, Ross extended his time in the position for almost a year.

White House thinks Obama has regained ‘upper hand’ with GOP on economy  —  President Obama has regained the “upper hand” on economic issues with voters, according to White House officials who warned Republicans that running against tax cuts for the middle-class is a “very dangerous place to be.”