Top Items:

Peter King: Ted Cruz ‘is a fraud’ — Washington (CNN) - The government shutdown showdown is getting ugly. — Republican Rep. Peter King said Friday that his Republican colleague in the Senate, Ted Cruz, “is a fraud” who will “no longer have any influence in the Republican Party” …
Discussion:
neo-neocon, Politico, Mediaite, The Hill, Connecting.the.Dots and National Review
RELATED:

Actually, Senate GOP can't filibuster to defund Obamacare — BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL CONGRESS OBAMACARE SENATE HEALTH CARE TED CRUZ — Senate Republicans, along with GOP lawmakers in the House, know that Sen. Ted Cruz and his colleagues don't have the votes to pass a continuing resolution to defund Obamacare.

Never Surrender — Since January 2011, Republicans have tried to repeal Obamacare, in whole or in part, more than 40 times. That number is recited with a predictable sneer by congressional Democrats and the Washington press corps each time a new vote is held.
Discussion:
Power Line and Taylor Marsh


In blow to immigration reform, House ‘gang of seven’ bill looks dead — In a blow to the hopes of passing immigration reform anytime soon, the bipartisan House “gang of seven” plan is probably dead, and almost certainly won't be introduced this fall as promised, a top Democrat on the “gang” acknowledges.
Discussion:
msnbc.com, Hot Air, Washington Monthly, The Hill, Congressman John Carter, National Review, Taegan Goddard's …, NBC Latino and TechCrunch


John Boehner is being even more irresponsible than Ted Cruz — The House just voted for a “continuing resolution” that defunds Obamacare (though it wouldn't actually stop Obamacare from being implemented). Here's what House Speaker John Boehner hopes will happen next: — This'll go well.
Discussion:
NBCNews, Speaker.gov, The Plum Line and Hullabaloo

House votes 230-189 to fund government, defund ObamaCare — The House on Friday passed legislation that defunds ObamaCare but would keep the government running through mid-December. — The legislation was approved on a party line 230-189 vote, with Rep. Scott Rigell (Va.) the only GOP no vote.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, USA Today, CBS News, The Huffington Post, NBCNews, Politico, Borowitz Report, National Review, ThinkProgress, LifeNews.com and PJ Media

House Passes Spending Bill Cutting Health Funds, Drawing Obama's Scorn — WASHINGTON — Hours after House Republicans pushed through a stopgap spending bill that would strip funding for his health care law, President Obama said on Friday that as Congress debates the budget, “they're focused on politics …
Discussion:
Voices, Gothamist, CNN and The Reaction


Senate turns to CR that defunds Obamacare — It's now up to the Senate. — With ten days until a possible government shutdown, the battle over federal spending has shifted to the Democratic-controlled Senate, where Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) chamber will begin considering …
Discussion:
The Plum Line, The Week, Business Insider, Talking Points Memo, Little Green Footballs, Crooks and Liars, CNN and The Hill

Filibuster the House CR? Cruz, Other Conservatives Say ‘Yes’ (Updated) — Sen. Ted Cruz said Friday that Republican senators should, in effect, filibuster the House-passed continuing resolution in the Senate. — The Texas Republican is calling on his colleagues to oppose limiting debate on it …


Inside Boehner's Plan To Avoid Shutdown (And Wound Obamacare) — Forget Friday's big spending bill vote. House leaders know the Senate will reject it and are ready to respond. Here's the GOP playbook. — House Republicans have orchestrated a master plan to avoid a government shutdown …


Conservatives Take Turns Standing Up to the Speaker — WASHINGTON — Those in the circle of fiery House conservatives who are spearheading a fiscal showdown that threatens to shut down the government see themselves in vaunted company. — “It only takes one with passion — look at Rosa Parks …
Discussion:
PostPartisan, ThinkProgress, The Huffington Post, Talking Points Memo, Hullabaloo, The Hill and Alan Colmes' Liberaland


GOP Rep: Obamacare Defunders Are Following Example Of Rosa Parks, MLK
Discussion:
The Raw Story and Daily Kos

House passes spending bill to defund Obamacare
Discussion:
CNN, Politico, Independent Journal Review, AMERICAN DIGEST and The Hill

The Republicans Who Fear a Shutdown
Discussion:
Politico and First Read

Another Insult to the Poor
Discussion:
Hullabaloo, msnbc.com, The Week, Shakesville, Daily Kos and The Raw Story


A guide to freaking out about the newest Obamacare glitch — Welcome to Health Reform Watch, Sarah Kliff's regular look at how the Affordable Care Act is changing the American health-care system — and being changed by it. You can reach Sarah with questions, comments and suggestions here.
Discussion:
Hit & Run
RELATED:


Rollie Chance, Wrongly Suspected Navy Yard Shooter: I Thought ‘This Must Be A Joke’ — WASHINGTON — No one knows what it's like to be a dead mass murderer. But for about 20 minutes on Monday, Rollie Chance got about as close to that experience as you can get.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, more at Mediagazer »
RELATED:


Signs of Distress Multiplied on Killer's Path to Navy Yard
Discussion:
The Lead with Jake Tapper and Clayton Cramer's Blog

The real Navy Yard scandal
Discussion:
Hit & Run, PostPartisan, The PJ Tatler, Betsy's Page, American Power and Ricochet Conversations Feed

Americans Fault Mental Health System Most for Gun Violence
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, The Hill, Real Clear Politics, Politico and Post Politics


Darrell Issa to travel to Libya — Darrell Issa is scheduled to travel to Libya next week as part of his investigation into the attack last year on the Benghazi consulate, according to documents obtained by POLITICO. — The California Republican, who chairs the House Oversight …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress and Talking Points Memo
RELATED:


Anthony Weiner: 'I'm not an idiot' — In his first national media interview since losing the New York City mayoral primary, former Rep. Anthony Weiner joined Geraldo Rivera for a nearly 20-minute appearance on Rivera's radio show Friday, taking responsibility for his loss while also blaming …
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers and Daily Pundit

Time to Act on Climate Change — I didn't plan for a life built around protecting the environment. In fact, I started my career as a health agent in the town of Canton, Mass., and later worked for the Stoughton Board of Health. But at some point I realized that at its core …
Discussion:
E2-Wire, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, epa.gov and ThinkProgress
RELATED:

Administration Presses Ahead With Limits on Emissions From Power Plants
Discussion:
msnbc.com, The Week, Daily Kos, Hullabaloo, National Review and Wonkblog

Why Iran seeks constructive engagement — Hassan Rouhani is president of Iran. — Three months ago, my platform of “prudence and hope” gained a broad, popular mandate. Iranians embraced my approach to domestic and international affairs because they saw it as long overdue.