memeorandum: A Tax System Stacked Against the 99 Percent (Joseph E. Stiglitz/Opinionator)

10:45 AM ET, April 15, 2013

Top Items:

Exclusive: As his presidential library debuts, George W. Bush prepares to return to public stage on his own terms … To post a comment, log into your chosen social network and then add your comment below. Your comments are subject to our Terms of Service and the privacy policy and terms of service of your social network.

Discussion: CNN, Trail Blazers Blog, Post Politics, First Read, Telegraph and The Daily Caller

Dallas Morning News:

Exclusive: See President George W. Bush's paintings: ‘People are surprised’ — This painting, “Miss Beazley,” is a work that former President George W. Bush did of his Scottish terrier. — of — President. Governor. Artist? — More than four years after George W. Bush left the White House …

Discussion: The Hill and Politico

Caitlin McDevitt / Associated Press:
It's a girl for Jenna Bush Hager

Discussion: Scared Monkeys

Kevin Liptak / CNN:
Jenna Bush Hager gives birth to baby girl

Discussion: Associated Press

New York Times:

Party Rifts Complicate Chances for Gun Bill Passage — WASHINGTON — Deep divisions within both parties over a bipartisan measure to extend background checks for gun buyers are threatening its chances as the Senate this week begins debating the first broad gun control legislation in nearly 20 years.

Discussion: Yahoo! News, Hit & Run, The Plum Line, The Caucus and NBC Politics

Bob Cusack / The Hill:

Manchin-Toomey bill inching closer to 60 votes in the Senate — A bipartisan bill on background checks is inching closer to the necessary 60 votes for passage, but it still has a long way to go. — The upcoming vote on a new proposal crafted by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) is expected to go down to the wire.

Discussion: Taylor Marsh

Washington Free Beacon:
Murphy: ‘It Took Me a While to Figure Out’ Opposition to Gun Control Is Based on Philosophy

Discussion: Weekly Standard

Washington Post:
Gun rights group endorses Manchin-Toomey background-check bill

Discussion: CNN, The Fix, Restoring Liberty, Right Wing News, The National Memo, Taegan Goddard's …, Prairie Weather and Post Politics

Peter Beinart / The Daily Beast: Not so long ago, plenty of Republicans favored gun control.

Kevin Bohn / CNN:
Gun rights group endorses background check deal

Discussion: The Reaction, Wall Street Journal, No More Mister Nice Blog and The Hill

New York Times:

Gitmo Is Killing Me — ONE man here weighs just 77 pounds. Another, 98. Last thing I knew, I weighed 132, but that was a month ago. — I've been on a hunger strike since Feb. 10 and have lost well over 30 pounds. I will not eat until they restore my dignity.

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Guardian, No More Mister Nice Blog, emptywheel, Taylor Marsh, Shakesville, Booman Tribune and TalkLeft

James Livingston / New York Times:

If Companies Are People... HERE'S an idea: why not tax corporations as if they were natural persons, in accordance with their newly discovered rights of free speech? That move would solve any impending fiscal crisis. — Indeed, we used to do just that. For most of the 1950s …

Discussion: Washington Monthly and Campaign for America's Future

Jeffrey M. Jones / Gallup:

Fewer Americans Now View Their Income Taxes as Fair — The 55% who say their taxes are fair is lowest since 2001 — PRINCETON, NJ — This Tax Day, 55% of Americans regard the income taxes they have to pay as fair, the lowest percentage Gallup has measured since 2001.

Discussion: Wonkblog, Hit & Run and Politico

Joseph E. Stiglitz / Opinionator:
A Tax System Stacked Against the 99 Percent

Discussion: naked capitalism and CNN

Reuters:

Tight win for Chavez's heir spells uncertainty for Venezuela — (Reuters) - Late socialist leader Hugo Chavez's chosen successor Nicolas Maduro won Venezuela's presidential election by a whisker but now faces opposition protests plus a host of economic and political challenges in the OPEC nation.

Discussion: Taylor Marsh and The Gateway Pundit

William Neuman / New York Times:
Venezuelans Elect Maduro to Succeed Chávez

Discussion: Washington Post, New Republic, The Week, IHT Rendezvous and Crooked Timber

Mary Anastasia O'Grady / Wall Street Journal:
Venezuela's Cuban Election

Discussion: BBC, National Review, Hot Air and The Week

Liz Sidoti / Associated Press:

Column: Compromise key to legacy Obama desires — FILE - In this April 11, 2013 file photo, President Barack Obama is seen in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. President Barack Obama wants to slash money for the Democratic sacred cows of Social Security and Medicare.

Politico:
Barack Obama, class warrior

Discussion: Heritage Action for America, Mediaite and Betsy's Page

Politico:
Mitch McConnell in no mood for bipartisanship

Discussion: American Prospect and msnbc.com

John Kerry / CNN:

Kerry: Foreign students ‘scared’ of guns in U.S. — (CNN) - Students in other countries assessing where to study abroad are increasingly scared of coming to the United States because of gun violence, the nation's top diplomat said Monday. — Speaking with CNN foreign affairs correspondent Jill Dougherty …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, The Gateway Pundit, Weekly Standard, Taegan Goddard's …, The Raw Story and National Review

Reuters:
Kerry says U.S. ready to “reach out” to North Korea

Discussion: The Hill

Joe Miller / Restoring Liberty:

Why I Am Considering a 2014 US Senate Run — Serious times call for bold measures. With the re-election of Barack Obama, our very way of self-government is in peril. The Constitution is under attack, the value of human life degraded, religious liberties are threatened …

Discussion: Yahoo! News, Ballot Box, Post Politics and Roll Call

Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:

Weiner, Exploring Possible Mayoral Bid, Issues Policy Booklet With Familiar Ring — As he seeks to extend the discussion about a possible candidacy for mayor — and shift attention away from the online sex-messaging scandal that cost him his Congressional seat — Anthony D. Weiner released …

Discussion: CNN, Business Insider, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and City Room

David Nakamura / Washington Post:

With endorsement of immigration plan, Rubio makes first major policy gambit of his career — It was early one morning in December when Richard J. Durbin spotted Marco Rubio in the members-only Senate gym. — Dedicated fitness buffs, the two had become unlikely workout buddies.

Discussion: Yahoo! News, The Week, The Hugh Hewitt Show and Prairie Weather

Geoff Petrulis / CBS Dallas:

Sources: JP Eric Williams To Be Charged With Murders In Kaufman County — KAUFMAN COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) - Sources tell CBS 11 that Former Justice of the Peace Eric Williams will be charged with capital murder in the deaths of Mike and Cynthia McLelland, and Mark Hasse.

Discussion: The Lonely Conservative, The Raw Story, The Other McCain, The Hinterland Gazette and Patterico's Pontifications